Chapter 5

Five minutes earlier.

Left alone, Kim Youngcheol trembled anxiously.

Even as he chewed his nails and ran through scenario after scenario, he couldn’t find a way to resolve the issue with his abilities alone.

‘Three kids were hospitalized. Of course the school won’t want this to blow up, but if Kim Hyunsung isn’t properly punished, the victims’ parents are going to lose their minds—especially Jung Minho’s. Those people would never overlook what happened to their son’s friends.’

The problem was serious.

Though he had accepted Kim Hyunsung’s terms for now, there were clear limits to what he could do as a mere teacher.

Who were Jung Minho’s parents?

They were well-known local elites.

Not only did they own multiple buildings, but since the moment Jung Minho enrolled, they had generously funded Cheonil High School. In fact, hadn’t the school recently re-turfed the lawn with their money? Being under the special watch of the principal himself, the influence of Jung Minho’s parents was unshakable.

And more than anything—

He had taken their money.

If Jung Minho’s parents really started kicking up a fuss, there was nothing he could do.

‘Think. Think. Think.’

Tremble, tremble.

His leg bounced nervously.

Clutching his head in agony, he desperately tried to think of the best solution.

But—

There was no answer.

The only remotely viable plan was to separate Jung Minho from the incident.

‘Kim Hyunsung didn’t touch Jung Minho. And Jung Minho’s parents didn’t see their son harmed, so if I can persuade them properly, they might choose to stay out of it. After all, the others are just their son’s friends. If I beg Kim Hyunsung not to touch Jung Minho no matter what, maybe this won’t become the worst-case scenario.’

Suddenly—

He jumped to his feet.

Before anything else happened, he needed to control both Kim Hyunsung and Jung Minho as quickly as possible.

He rushed out.

His mouth felt dry.

And then he saw it.

Smack!

Smack, smack, smack!

Through the window.

Jung Minho was being slapped.

Terrified students were watching from a distance, and Kim Hyunsung, gripping Jung Minho’s collar with a vicious look, kept slapping him again and again. The sound alone was enough to make one’s skin crawl. It was clearly a situation that needed to be stopped as a teacher—but the moment he made eye contact with Jung Minho, Kim Youngcheol reflexively looked away.

“…Fuck.”

He couldn’t help it.

Whatever Jung Minho’s parents might say—

If his affair was exposed, he was finished.

Leaving the confused stares of students behind, Kim Youngcheol hurried down the hallway.

How long had he been beating him?

Jung Minho lost consciousness.

So weak.

He hadn’t even been hit that many times, yet he couldn’t handle it and passed out.

‘You mocked me… with only this much to show?’

Kim Hyunsung was furious.

For three years, he had been tormented by Park Mincheol’s gang—curled up, swallowing moans while they laughed at him. They said he ended up like that because he was weak. That if it had been them, they would have fought to the end. As they ridiculed him, Kim Hyunsung had only wished the moment would pass quickly.

But now—

Their reality was pathetic.

Compared to what they did to him, this was nothing. Yet they trembled like they were dying.

Thud.

He let go of Jung Minho.

Wiping the blood off his hands, Kim Hyunsung stood up, and saw the terrified faces of his classmates watching him. It must have been shocking for them. The Kim Hyunsung they remembered was nothing like this. His relentless violence made it feel like he was someone entirely different, even though they were in the same room.

Creak.

Thud.

He sat in a chair.

Caught his breath.

Only now did the pain from everywhere start rushing in. He turned his head to see Jung Minho still lying motionless.

“Idiot.”

Truthfully, Kim Hyunsung knew.

If he didn’t touch Jung Minho, there was still a way to sweep the incident under the rug.

But he didn’t care.

If he were going to pick and choose his targets for revenge, he wouldn’t have slapped Park Mincheol the moment he returned to the past. He would’ve chosen a peaceful life, away from them. But after experiencing the hell of being a vegetative shell, his completely worn-down mind desired only revenge.

And this was the result.

Looking down at Jung Minho bleeding on the floor, Kim Hyunsung knew exactly what would happen next.

‘All hell’s gonna break loose.’

Three were already hospitalized.

Now one more.

It was a beating bad enough to make the news.

The principal’s dream of turning Cheonil High School into a prestigious school had been shattered. He’d try to discipline this harshly. But pretending it didn’t happen was impossible. Too many eyes had witnessed everything. No matter how much they tried to cover it up, their testimonies would drag Kim Hyunsung to judgment.

‘If even Cheonil High School can’t handle this, then the revenge I want is impossible.’

He faced reality.

This was only the beginning.

And sure enough—

As noise erupted in the distance, Kim Hyunsung leaned back in his chair and blankly stared at the ceiling.

* * *

One student.

More than a dozen adults.

While Kim Hyunsung sat quietly, the adults surrounded him, raising their voices in anger.

“This incident is absolutely unacceptable. Not only did Kim Hyunsung beat his friends so badly they were hospitalized, he also showed no remorse after his meeting with Teacher Kim Youngcheol and went on to assault Jung Minho. This is an extremely vile offense. Have you all seen the victims’ faces? They were left so bloodied, it looked like something out of a gangster film.”

“That’s right. I think we need to impose a heavy punishment immediately.”

Following the words of Oh Daehwan, the principal of Cheonil High School, one of the teachers chimed in.

This wasn’t something they could simply let slide.

Even the other teachers nodded in agreement—this was a case without precedent in the school’s history.

English teacher Lee Minyoung spoke up.

“I agree with the principal. Kim Hyunsung should be expel—what?!?”

Thud.

At Lee Minyoung’s words—

Kim Youngcheol jabbed her side.

When Lee Minyoung glared at him in surprise, Kim Youngcheol shot her a sharp look as if to tell her to keep quiet unless she knew the full story. He hadn’t told her yet. That Kim Hyunsung knew about their affair, and that if Kim Hyunsung got expelled, all their lives would go down in flames.

He glanced at Kim Hyunsung.

Even with the teachers crowding around and making a fuss, he wore a relaxed face, as if none of it concerned him.

Kim Youngcheol spoke.

“What Kim Hyunsung did was certainly wrong, but as the homeroom teacher of Class 1, I’ve observed that the root of the issue began with Park Mincheol and the so-called victims.”

“What do you mean by that, Mr. Kim?”

“There have been many rumors that Park Mincheol’s group has been bullying other students. I was planning to address it properly when the time was right, but it seems Kim Hyunsung finally snapped under that pressure. Teachers, before he’s a perpetrator, Kim Hyunsung is a victim. If we punish him like this, we’ll be committing an unforgivable act as educators.”

He twisted the situation.

With no way to defend the actions, he flipped the roles of perpetrator and victim.

For Kim Youngcheol, it was the best option available.

But despite the homeroom teacher’s defense, Principal Oh Daehwan couldn’t overlook the issue.

“Regardless, punishment is unavoidable.”

“Principal!”

“Mr. Kim!”

Oh Daehwan’s neck veins bulged.

If it had been only the first three students—

He might’ve let it slide.

But seeing Jung Minho hauled off bloodied, Oh Daehwan knew severe punishment was necessary.

‘Jung Minho’s parents won’t let this go. To calm their fury, the offender must be crushed thoroughly.’

His gaze sharpened.

Oh Daehwan had a dream.

To turn Cheonil High School into a prestigious institution, he needed to maintain strong ties with powerful figures.

“One week from now, we’ll convene a disciplinary committee. At that time, we’ll decide on Kim Hyunsung’s punishment. Until then, everyone is to keep this matter from spreading. And Kim Hyunsung, you are suspended from school until the hearing. Take this time to reflect on your actions, and return with your parents in one week.”

Oh Daehwan had no interest in Kim Hyunsung’s family background.

Whether he had parents or not.

Who he lived with.

As the principal’s harsh words hung in the air, Kim Hyunsung stood up without protest.

“Understood.”

* * *

Outside the office.

Kim Youngcheol hurried after him.

Only after confirming no one else was around did he speak in a desperate, hushed voice.

“Hyunsung. I really did everything I could. The moment you laid hands on Jung Minho, there was nothing I could do as a teacher to fix this. So, I mean, sh—sigh, never mind. Was it really impossible for you to hold it in? If you’d just stayed put, I might’ve had one shot at smoothing things over.”

What a pathetic man.

He had no problem slapping Kim Hyunsung down with authority earlier, yet now he had completely adopted a subservient tone.

Well—

Only someone like this could live a life like his.

A man who’d sell his liver and kidneys depending on the situation—he had long since abandoned any sense of responsibility as a teacher, living like trash. But Kim Hyunsung didn’t feel any rage. He had already known what kind of person Kim Youngcheol was, and he knew the man couldn’t resolve this incident either.

“I believe you did everything you could.”

“Right? Then our secret is—”

“But.”

He stopped walking.

Looking up, he gave a cold stare.

“So you knew all along that Park Mincheol was bullying students? Remember this. Until the day I graduate from this school, the only way to keep my mouth shut is to do your utmost for me. No matter what happens. If I don’t see that kind of effort from you, I’ll shred not only your life but also the life of English teacher Lee Minyoung, who’s having an affair with you. I promise. I’ll make good on every word I’ve said.”

“…Understood.”

His face turned pale.

Unable to say anything else, Kim Hyunsung turned and walked back toward the classroom.

Kim Youngcheol.

Part of him wanted to destroy the man right away.

But he wasn’t the real target.

He was just one of the many pieces of trash Kim Hyunsung had encountered in his life—and a card too useful to discard. At least until he had secured his footing at Cheonil High School, Kim Youngcheol was necessary. Just a lowly teacher, but one whose filthy lifestyle meant he’d do anything to survive.

He entered the classroom.

Ignoring the stares of his classmates, Kim Hyunsung grabbed his bag and walked straight back out.

‘One week.’

It was enough.

For the future to come.

To lay the foundation for revenge.

After one week, Oh Daehwan would witness a disciplinary committee far different from the one he expected.