Devil Returns to School Days - Chapter 202: Epilogue, A New Life (1)

It was a bright and sunny day.

As the weather warmed and grew more pleasant, a group of people with cameras could be seen filming at the entrance of *Korea University*, one of Korea’s most prestigious institutions.

“Hello, subscribers! Welcome back to the ‘Study Master’ channel! Today, we’re visiting the renowned Korea University!”

*Study Master.*

A well-known YouTube channel.

It provided information for students preparing for exams and insights into university life, amassing an impressive following of 500,000 subscribers. Despite its size, the filming crew was modest—just the YouTuber and two staff members handling the equipment.

Facing the camera confidently, the YouTuber greeted viewers with an enthusiastic tone.

“The reason we’re visiting Korea University today is for one of our regular features: the University Exploration series! Now, what comes to mind when you think of Korea University? It’s known as the pinnacle of academia in Korea, a place where top students and perfect scorers on the college entrance exam are commonplace. We’ve heard rumors that even a random student passing by might have been first in their entire high school or scored a perfect 100% on the CSAT. Today, we’re here to find out if those rumors are true!”

Walking through the university gates, the YouTuber began stopping students for interviews.

“Excuse me, could you tell us where you ranked in high school?”

“First.”

“Of course! And your CSAT score?”

“…I missed one question.”

“Wow. Did you see that reaction, everyone? He said it like it’s some kind of crime to miss one question. This is the shocking reality of Korea University!”

The YouTuber buzzed around campus like an excited puppy, scanning for more interviewees.

Then.

They spotted someone.

It was a student with deep dark circles, evidence of grueling studies. Luckily, he was happy to participate in the interview.

“Could you introduce yourself?”

“I’m Kang Min-woo, a student at the College of Medicine.” (TL Note: He was one of the students Hyunsung tutored when he first moved to Seoul. He is the son of Kang Dong-chul and Lee Mi-so)

“Whoa. The College of Medicine. We’ve found the ultimate boss! If you don’t mind me asking, I’m guessing you were first in your school. How did you score on the CSAT?”

All eyes turned to him.

With the attention of the YouTuber and the gathered students on him, Kang Min-woo scratched his head.

“…Honestly, it was a rough year for the CSAT. I got seven questions wrong. Fortunately, my score was still high enough to get into the College of Medicine.”

“You mean that year with the infamous ‘killer CSAT,’ where only one person scored a perfect score?”

“Yes.”

“That’s incredible! Seven mistakes in a year like that is amazing. Do you have any advice for students preparing for the CSAT?”

Being a medical student was a position of admiration.

But Kang Min-woo didn’t credit his success entirely to himself.

“Honestly, it was all thanks to my tutor.”

That day.

The interview went viral.

Comments flooded in, demanding to know what kind of tutor could help a student achieve such a feat during one of the toughest CSAT years. Despite the deluge of DMs, Kang Min-woo refused to reveal his tutor’s identity. Given his father’s fame and *Kim Hyunsung’s* reputation, he wanted to avoid unnecessary attention.

To Kang Min-woo, it was just a fleeting incident in his otherwise peaceful life.

* * *

Kang Min-woo felt a rare flutter of excitement.

Amid the grind of his grueling university life, he had been invited to a blind date meetup—a refreshing break.

The other party? Students from the nearby *Department of Dance.*

He eagerly accepted.

The organizer added a note.

“We’re short on people from our department, so we’re bringing along some students from the Department of Physical Education. Is that okay?”

The details of his companions didn’t bother him.

While students from the Department of Physical Education were strong competition, Kang Min-woo was confident. With his attractive face and prestigious status as a medical student, he felt sure of himself. The recent attention from the YouTube video only added to his confidence.

Grinning, he pictured the upcoming meeting with the dance students. He already felt like a winner.

But.

Reality hit hard.

“What’s your name again?”

“You’re so handsome.”

“This isn’t fair. Even your body is amazing.”

The dance students.

As expected, they were gorgeous.

But all of their attention was focused on one person.

And Kang Min-woo couldn’t blame them.

‘This can’t be real. That face, combined with being a Korea University student? It’s not fair.’

A student from the Department of Physical Education.

He wasn’t just handsome—he was ridiculously handsome.

His sharp, noble features, combined with his athletic build, made him seem invincible. Even his name, *Kim Siwoo,* felt effortlessly cool, further emphasizing the unfairness of it all.

Feeling a pang of frustration, Kang Min-woo spoke up cautiously.

“Excuse me.”

“Yes?”

The dance students turned to him, their gazes slightly annoyed, as if they were being interrupted.

“There’s been a lot of buzz lately about social issues involving Prosecutor Kang Dongchul. Do you know him?”

“…And?”

“Oh, nothing. It’s just… he’s my father. I thought you might know of him.”

Even he knew how pathetic this sounded.

But for Kang Min-woo, it was the only way to take Kim Siwoo down a notch.

Suddenly.

As their eyes met, Min-woo felt a nagging sense of familiarity with Siwoo.

* * *

After the Golden Gate scandal passed out of students’ hands, Kim Siwoo stood at a crossroads.

Revenge had been largely accomplished. Now, he needed to decide how to live his life.

The first option was athletics.

Once a promising taekwondo athlete, Siwoo had physically developed further through grueling training with Kim Hyunsung. But after much thought, he decided it wasn’t the path for him. His distaste for the elitism in sports and the scars from his experiences with school violence pushed him toward wanting a normal life.

Then.

Kim Hyunsung made a suggestion.

“Why not study a bit more and join the Department of Physical Education? I’ll help you. You know I got someone into Korea University, right?”

It was tempting.

Siwoo had always thought about how his life might have been different if he’d had a proper mentor.

He began to imagine becoming someone who could guide students on their paths, preventing injuries, and teaching proper training techniques. Inspired by the idea, he decided to pursue it. Though he was already studying under Hyunsung’s guidance, from that moment, Hyunsung personally took charge of his studies.

* * *

A year later.

Kim Siwoo achieved a good score on his exams.

But it wasn’t satisfying.

Another year passed.

Kim Siwoo was admitted to *Korea University.*

It was an accomplishment made possible not only by his teacher’s guidance but also by his own underestimated intellect.

Once enrolled, Siwoo’s life became a whirlwind. Even as a second-year student, this was his first time attending a social gathering like a blind date. He wouldn’t have gone if not for a friend’s insistence.

“…Hmm.”

Siwoo furrowed his brow.

His friend noticed and approached.

“What’s wrong?”

“I keep getting messages, but I don’t know how to respond.”

“Huh?”

The friend leaned over to check Siwoo’s phone. Upon reading the exchange, his eyes widened in disbelief.

– What are you up to?
– Did you wake up?
– Are you in class?

= Yes.

– Are you done with class?
– Hello?

= I just finished.

It was a bizarre conversation.

The girl had messaged him in the morning asking what he was doing. Siwoo replied at 5 PM, long after lunch and his classes had ended. For someone clearly interested in him, his detached responses were undoubtedly frustrating.

His friend asked, “Have you been replying like this the whole time?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you not interested in her?”

“I am.”

“…What?”

His friend’s face twisted in disbelief.

How could this behavior possibly indicate interest?

A terrible suspicion crept into his mind.

“…How many relationships have you had?”

“Relationships?”

There was no need to think.

In middle school, Siwoo was in the athletics club. In high school, he was consumed by revenge alongside Kim Hyunsung.

“I’ve had a few, but they were all short-lived. Most were confessions I accepted, but the relationships lasted less than ten days.”

“You idiot.”

The most popular guy in the Physical Education Department.

His truth was absurd.

His friend exclaimed, “You moron! If you’re going to waste that face, just give it to me! A billion? Two billion? Name your price. I’ll take out loans if I have to. Just swap faces with me!”

* * *

The world was peaceful.

Yoon Byeong-ho’s appeals had failed, and his prison sentence was confirmed. While some remained curious about Yoon Hyeon-min, his grim reality in the psychiatric hospital remained undisclosed. The *Golden Gate* scandal became a symbol of justice, with many praising Korea’s legal system for proving it wasn’t dead yet.

Then, one day, someone posted online:

– “What’s Kim Hyunsung doing these days? He seems to have disappeared.”

As the catalyst of the Golden Gate scandal, a figure who had brought about revolutionary change in Korea, Kim Hyunsung’s name was unforgettable.

– “I’m curious too.”
– “He’s a genius. With his grades, he could easily crush it at Korea University. He must’ve gone to college, right?”
– “If he did, wouldn’t there be rumors? Nothing’s shown up on university forums.”
– “Maybe he’s training to be a professional fighter. I mean, remember the Gangnam apartment brawl? He fought off so many people on his own. It’d be a national loss to waste that kind of talent. We might have a future UFC champion on our hands.”
– “Could be possible. With Kim Muyeol’s recent UFC debut and winning streak, Kim Hyunsung might not be far behind.”

Kim Hyunsung.

Thinking about it, he was truly remarkable.

He had aced one of the toughest CSATs for revenge and physically dismantled the *Golden Circle.* His talent defied reason.

People speculated endlessly. Whether he was attending university or training in mixed martial arts, their theories reflected his extraordinary achievements.

Then, someone shared the truth.

– “What are you talking about? Kim Hyunsung works at Myungjin Construction now.”

* * *

*Click, clack.*

The sound of polished shoes echoed in the hallway.

Walking down the long corridor, a man appeared in the office carrying something in his hand.

“Everyone, take a coffee break.”

“Ahhh!”

“You’re the best, Chief!”

Female employees cheered.

Stopping what they were doing, they hurried over to chat briefly with him before returning to their desks.

To the new hire, this was an unusual scene.

It was rare for the female staff to react so enthusiastically to anyone. Curious, the newcomer asked cautiously, “…Who is he? He looks really young.”

“Oh, you must be new.”

Indeed, as the newcomer had noted, the man looked exceptionally young.

At most, he appeared to be in his early twenties—hardly the image of someone holding a senior position at a major company. Yet, for those who had worked at *Myungjin Construction* for years, this man was not someone to be underestimated.

Myungjin Construction, now classified as a major corporation in the construction industry, owed much of its success to him.

The female employee smiled knowingly.

“Two years ago, Myungjin Construction was in serious trouble. That man singlehandedly saved the company. He’s the real power behind the scenes. If you don’t remember anything else, just remember *Chief Secretary Kim Hyunsung’s* face. He’s the golden lifeline of this company.”