Chapter 79 |
“I’ll give you a choice.”
Woo Kangwon’s face brightened as if he sensed hope in my confident tone.
Feeling a little proud of myself, I cleared my throat and spoke.
“The first option is to give people something to criticize about that junior. People don’t believe the words of an idiot. It lowers the credibility of the accusation.”
“…….”
With a completely deadpan expression, Woo Kangwon stared at me, his mouth slightly open.
‘I expected him to dislike it. After all, he was silently taking the insults to protect that junior in the first place.’
I decided to bring up the second option in response to Woo Kangwon’s reaction.
“The second option is to resolve it through conversation.”
“But if he was the type who could be persuaded just by words, this would’ve already been resolved by you before things got this far, hyung. So, it won’t work just with conversation.”
“What do you suggest I do then?”
“You can threaten him that if he doesn’t watch his mouth, you will teach him a lesson. But that guy already knows your personality, hyung, so even if you try to threaten him, he’ll end up realizing that you’re just bluffing.”
Woo Kangwon’s face became gaunt again.
It was the most varied expression change I had seen from him so far.
I kept talking while leaving Woo Kangwon, who had reached a state of resignation, behind.
“You need the intervention of a third party. Someone who can’t be controlled, someone whose mind cannot be read needs to get involved and mess things up.”
Not the agency, not the production team. It would be a headache if it was misunderstood that there was pressure from those protecting Woo Kangwon.
So, the third party needed in this situation was someone in the same position as Woo Kangwon; someone who was not threatening on the surface, but had a reputation for taking unpredictable actions and was by no means easy to deal with.
“No way.”
Woo Kangwon’s face turned even grimmer.
I nodded at him and answered, “This Seungbeom will go with you.”
Having heard my answer, Woo Kangwon let out a sigh as if everything was about to fade.
Since he was the one asking for a favor, he couldn’t really criticize my actions, but when it came down to actually doing it, it was clear that it made him uncomfortable.
‘It’s just a case of reaping what you sow.’
There was no choice that wouldn’t cause harm to the junior. It couldn’t be helped. Since he had deceived the public with lies, it was natural that he would hear some hurtful words in the process of undoing the situation.
It was not that I did not understand Woo Kangwon’s feelings.
The root of that hesitation and lingering attachment was affection.
Even if it hurt himself and made everyone else sick, it was undoubtedly affection.
A failed leader.
I could understand, because I went through the exact same thing.
And that’s why I had something to say.
“Does he look happy to you right now, hyung?”
“…….”
There was no answer to the question.
He probably knew it too. He must have been trying hard to pretend not to know.
“Just because you endure and quietly put up with it, hyung, doesn’t mean that guy’s future will become happy.”
“….Still, I wanted to do the best I could for those kids. And at that time, I was so powerless that the only thing I could do was that.”
“Yeah, I know. I know it very well.”
“…You do?”
“You wanted to make sure they wouldn’t fail.”
Woo Kangwon’s eyes widened. He was probably surprised that I had pinpointed his feelings so accurately.
“But just because you’re a leader doesn’t mean you have to take responsibility for their entire lives. So, you should help them learn to make their own choices, to let them have the experience of accepting the consequences of those choices. If you just protect them blindly, no one will ever be happy.”
As I said that, I recalled one by one the faces of Seo Yuseong, Yoo Jay, Cha Woon, and the other members of Prism.
If I, or Woo Kangwon, had been able to learn this fact even a little sooner, what would have happened to us? I would probably never find the answer to this question.
The one thing I knew for sure was that I had no right to talk about the position of a leader.
‘Because I was the worst leader to those brats.’
The only thing I could do was to simply stop this guy from repeating the same mistake.
“No matter what, it’s impossible for you to cut him off harshly right now. So, I’ll do it for you.”
Woo Kangwon listened to my words carefully and seemed to be convinced, nodding his head a couple of times. Then, after hesitating a bit, he said with a smile, “Thank you … when I look at you, it feels like I’m looking at an older brother who’s much older than me. Seungbeom-ah, I think you’ll really be a good leader.”
I couldn’t give any response to that statement.
I was really relieved that Woo Kangwon had his head lowered, perhaps he hadn’t said it expecting an answer.
***
In the early hours of the morning, when no one was roaming around, in a corner out of sight, we waited for the protagonist of the expose. It wasn’t long before someone showed up.
“What else is it this time that you called me for?”
A face that looked like it had just come of age, a sarcastic tone of voice, and a body too big to be a normal person. I could tell immediately who it was without being told.
“Who is this guy?”
Woo Kangwon’s junior spotted me and let out a hollow laugh before asking Woo Kangwon. Before Woo Kangwon could even respond, I immediately intervened.
“Ah, you got caught.”
“What?”
“The national team selection match fixing, you got caught by me.”
At the sudden, blunt remark made without any warning, a silence followed.
“…….”
“…….”
“What did you just say……”
The words he managed to utter after breaking through the silence clearly showed his agitation.
“…Where did you hear that?”
I came to threaten him.
I had to relentlessly corner him so he couldn’t make rational decisions.
My brain, operating at full speed, came up with answers that would scare him.
“I know a reporter. If necessary, I’ll leak it through them.”
“….What does it have to do with you that you’re getting involved in this?”
The way he tried to sound calm was laughable. His voice wavered, and it was obvious that his hands were trembling, so I couldn’t understand what meaning there was in his actions.
“I’ve decided to make my debut with Trainee Woo Kangwon. I’m very unhappy to be interrupted by such ridiculous lies.”
“…I’m sure he doesn’t want you to act like this.”
“Whether Trainee Woo Kangwon wants it or not, it’s none of my business. If you’ve watched the broadcast diligently, you should know my personality, so please don’t bother me with meaningless nitpicking.”
It meant that No matter what happens, I would expose everything in my f**king way.
The guy who hid his trembling hands in his pockets threatened me back, “Let’s go all the way to the end. I’m not afraid.”
‘He bet that I can’t ignore Woo Kangwon’s wishes.’
He must have been very anxious even now. His expose was full of lies, and Woo Kangwon’s fans were already gritting their teeth, analyzing it. Faced with their sharp reactions, he must have realized that he had walked too far to turn back now.
It was within my expectations that this bastard would hold out until the end, and I came here to solve that.
To do something Woo Kangwon would never do.
“Are you sure you’re okay with this? Can your father handle all the public backlash by himself?”
“….What did you say?”
As soon as I mentioned his father, the expression on that junior’s face became stiffer than before, and Woo Kangwon also looked at me with a bewildered expression. But I ignored him and continued speaking.
“Your father bragged so much about how his son would soon become a national team athlete, but now he probably won’t even go outside because he’s afraid of people’s judgment.”
“Our Suyong is currently focusing on treatment due to an injury, so there’s been no news. But he promised he’ll earn a spot on the national team fairly soon. I’m so proud of him”
I already knew what kind of person his father was.
He was the type of person who always used the phrase ‘fair and square‘ like a mantra.
All he had was his only son and the dojo where he raised him, but he lived a life filled with pride. It was obvious how he would live under the people’s gaze when the truth was revealed.
The junior, who understood what I meant, clenched his fist and shouted, “You’re threatening me with my parents? Are you even human?”
I returned his anger right back at that bastard.
“Why? You did the same too.”
“What?”
“You spread rumors everywhere that Trainee Woo Kangwon is someone who hits his juniors, but do you think Woo Kangwon’s family didn’t see that?”
“You know it too … I’m just a victim of this corrupt sports world!”
“I don’t really understand what that has to do with the current topic of our conversation.”
Unable to find a counterargument, he eventually began to bring up his own justification. I calmly looked up at the guy, who had lost his composure in his anger, and responded calmly.
“And now, you can no longer exist as a complete victim.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Once an explanation for this incident is made, any future revelations in the sports world will face thorough scrutiny. Their cries will be doubted from start to finish, and unless they explicitly recount every detail of the suffering they’ve endured, it will be difficult for them to gain trust. After all, a precedent of false accusations has now been set. You’re indirectly becoming a perpetrator to them.”
“No!”
“I sympathize with what happened to you. But you’re directing your anger in the wrong direction.”
“Don’t pity me! That!”
He kept trying to refute everything I said. It was clear he still couldn’t shake off his resentment. I suppressed my rising anger and cut him off every time he started to speak.
“It guess it’s easier to vent your anger by bullying someone who acts like a pushover rather than facing someone powerful. You’re a coward. That’s why you keep getting cornered like this.”
“…….”
“Now, what are you going to do? There’s only one thing left to do.”
There was no escape route left for him. What he did was just as dangerous as it was careless.
The only way out to make up for that carelessness was Woo Kangwon’s soft personality, but that was blocked by me.
He opened and closed his mouth, again and again. But perhaps unable to find anything to refute, he quietly glared at me with lifeless eyes. Then, he began to mutter in a small voice.
“Why, why the hell…..”
“…….”
“Why is it that only Woo Kangwon has a savior like you? Why am I the only one who ends up like this! We both sacrificed our lives for the same thing!”
At first, it was so faint it was almost like he was talking to himself. But as his inferiority complex grew, his voice got louder and more violent.
“Why only me!”
With each stomp of his foot, the ground shook with a thud, thud sound. His agitation was clearly visible.
“What did I do so wrong! At least let things go the way I want for once!”
‘This bastard…..’
As soon as I saw that junior’s face, I instinctively knew.
His inferiority complex wasn’t just directed at Woo Kangwon alone.
“Is it fun to make money while being loved by others? What exactly am I lacking? What makes you so special? What makes Woo Kangwon so special!”
That bastard, having lost his reason, approached me step by step with clenched fists.
“Please calm down.”
“Calm down? Why, are you finally scared? While you were acting so arrogant just a moment ago?”
His agitation didn’t subside, if anything, it only grew stronger. I got up from the chair and took a step back every time he came closer. But he didn’t back down, swinging his arm.
‘This crazy bastard, is he out of his mind?’
A black belt was threatening a civilian, I wondered if this was really happening.
“Say that one more time!”
The moment that junior’s arm grabbed my neck, something hard pressed against the back of my head.
‘….Huh?’
I turned around to see what it was.
And in the split second that I turned my gaze away, something happened.
Bang!
“Stop it and come to your senses. How long are you going to live like this?”
A low, sunken voice was heard.
And then I belatedly saw the junior, who had been thrown to the ground like a fallen leaf.
I broke out in a cold sweat as I watched the sight.
‘Can a person … fly through the air like that?’
Woo Kangwon was extremely furious.
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Translator’s Corner:
They seriously didn’t pay Han Seungbeom enough for this