Chapter 48
Nickname: Mysticism.
Real Name: Shin So-mang.
Her first meeting with Kang Geon dates back about 2 years ago.
It was when she was still a high school student.
At that time, Shin So-mang exuded a unique presence along with her stunning beauty.
Adding a bit of exaggeration, Shin So-mang had celestial beauty that caught everyone’s attention, regardless of gender or age.
Wherever she went, it was common for people to ask for her number.
She often received street casting offers too.
Aside from her small height, there was nothing to criticize about her looks.
Even that flaw was offset by her small face and perfect proportions.
However, despite her looks, Shin So-mang was always trapped in a mysterious silence.
When someone spoke to her, she would just nod her head.
Very few had heard her voice.
She wasn’t mute.
She just didn’t like speaking in front of others.
Some students mocked her for being rude, but the majority were rather enchanted by Shin So-mang.
Her beautiful appearance turned even her silence into a sort of charm.
People constantly tried to approach her.
But Shin So-mang didn’t allow others to get close.
She lived alone, without anyone around her.
It was comfortable for her that way.
Commonly, kids raised with love grow up to be lively and outgoing.
Shin So-mang was an exception to that notion.
Even though she had all the love from her parents and everyone around her.
She maintained an introverted and quiet personality.
Also, as is often the case with beautiful female students, Shin So-mang too was at risk of getting involved in bad crowds or going down the wrong path during her school years.
But she, who matured early, turned down all those temptations.
She believed that if her body got dirty, her heart would get dirty too.
And if her heart got dirty, her soul would too, so she never engaged in physical contact with her peers.
There were those who claimed to be Shin So-mang‘s friends.
Of course, they were more like acquaintances she greeted occasionally.
Excluding her family, Shin So-mang always maintained a certain distance from others.
That didn’t mean she was lonely.
Her solitude was not mere loneliness but a quiet way of life she chose for herself.
Within her silence lay deep contemplation and reflection, leading her to a maturity that set her apart from her peers.
Perhaps because of that way of life.
She didn’t have any particular hobbies.
She might occasionally become interested in something, but she quickly lost interest in everything.
Then one day.
She met a man who piqued her interest.
*
School Dismissal Time.
Shin So-mang turned into the alley as usual.
At that moment, what caught her eye was a group of delinquents huddled together smoking like a wolf pack.
‘…So pathetic.’
Shin So-mang lowered her gaze.
She tried to quietly pass by, avoiding eye contact with them.
It was then.
“Hey, friend.”
One delinquent female student who was squatting and spitting on the ground called out to Shin So-mang.
The delinquent spat on Shin So-mang‘s shoe and waved her hand.
“Hello?”
“…”
Shin So-mang slightly nodded in silent response.
And just as she was about to move her feet again.
“Ugh, this little b*tch is really rude, huh?”
The furious voice of the delinquent female student rang out.
She frowned and stood up, blocking Shin So-mang‘s path.
Then, the other delinquents approached with looks of concern, holding her arm.
“What’s wrong?”
“I mean, she just nodded and walked away after I said hello. It’s so annoying.”
“She doesn’t talk much, you know.”
“Yeah, you know that. Why bother?”
“Just let it go.”
The other delinquents chimed in.
No one sided with the delinquent female student who started the trouble with Shin So-mang.
The delinquent girl was upset.
Her friends weren’t supporting her, instead siding with Shin So-mang, a girl they weren’t close to at all.
That got her fired up.
She already disliked Shin So-mang.
Just because she was pretty, her friends sided with her, which infuriated her.
Malice reflected in the delinquent student’s face.
“Hey.”
The girl called out to Shin So-mang again.
“…”
Shin So-mang remained silent.
“Aren’t you going to answer?”
“…Why?”
“Why? You think I look easy?”
“No.”
“Then why ignore my greeting and just leave?”
“I nodded.”
“You think that counts as saying hello? You’re not mute, so why don’t you just speak, b*tch?”
“Sorry. If that upset you, I’ll apologize.”
Shin So-mang’s calm answer only fueled the delinquent girl’s anger further.
The surrounding delinquents were eager to ignore the situation.
They had no intention of helping Shin So-mang, but neither did they want to support the troublemaker.
Sigh, here we go again…
“Let’s just ignore it.”
“I should try the lottery; maybe I’ll hit the jackpot this time.”
“I want to impress Shin So-mang, but if I stick my neck out, I might get kicked out of this group, so I’ll just keep quiet.”
“I wonder what adult films to watch at home today.”
The indifferent responses from the male delinquents.
In contrast, the reactions of the female delinquents were divided into two camps.
Some delinquent girls secretly wanted to become closer to Shin So-mang.
They hoped the two would resolve the issue amicably.
While some delinquent girls who usually looked down on Shin So-mang wished this would be their chance to flatten her nose. They didn’t want to side with the troublemaker either. They chose to remain as bystanders rather than get involved in annoying matters.
A verbal clash occurred between Shin So-mang and the delinquent girl.
In fact, it was more of a one-sided barrage of insults from the delinquent girl.
“Why’s a no-backup loser like you acting tough? You got any older brothers?”
Then suddenly, the sound of a smack! echoed through the alley.
The delinquent girl slapped Shin So-mang across the face.
Shin So-mang held her face and glared fiercely at the delinquent girl.
“What, you wanna hit me too? Go ahead if you can.”
The girl hissed.
“…”
Shin So-mang maintained her silence.
“Open your eyes and pay attention. If you don’t want to get slapped again today.”
“…”
Shin So-mang felt like she could sigh, but she held it in.
Because they’d find a way to pick a fight about that too.
“…Is that enough?”
“Enough of what?”
“You hit me, so you must feel relieved now. So I’m leaving.”
“No? I still don’t feel relieved.”
The delinquent girl raised her hand high.
“Just ten more hits.”
At that moment.
Shin So-mang’s eyes went wide.
The delinquent girl mistook it for fear.
But Shin So-mang’s change in expression wasn’t because of her.
It was because of the man standing behind her.
“Count them yourself. I’m not bright enough to remember how many I hit.”
Just as the delinquent girl attempted to slap Shin So-mang again.
Thud.
Someone from behind grabbed her wrist.
“Who fights among friends?”
Everyone’s gaze in the alley focused on the owner of that voice.
The man towered over 190 cm.
Even the tallest delinquent could barely reach his shoulders.
His physique seemed beyond that of an average person.
Broad shoulders, thick arms.
And the bulky muscles visible beneath his t-shirt clearly showed signs of long training.
The man’s name was Kang Geon.
‘What a height…’
‘An athlete maybe?’
‘Damn, is he a barbarian or what?’
Kang Geon’s very presence overshadowed the surrounding air.
The male delinquents instinctively shrank back before his overwhelming presence.
‘Whoa, his face is super small, and his proportions are just right…’
‘Is he a bodybuilder?’
‘So attractive.’
The female delinquents couldn’t help but marvel internally.
Except for one.
“Damn! Where do you think you’re touching!”
The girl who tried to hit Shin So-mang yelled in fury.
She swung her arm to shake off Kang Geon’s hold but was no match for his strength.
“Let go! If you don’t, I’ll sue for sexual harassment!”
“Huh? I didn’t touch you inappropriately, so can that even be classified as sexual harassment?”
“You can nowadays! Especially because I’m a minor, I can even get you sentenced to death!”
“…Did the laws in South Korea change a lot while I wasn’t looking? You can’t get the death penalty just for grabbing someone’s wrist.”
In reality, South Korea hadn’t executed the death penalty yet.
The delinquent girl was just spouting nonsense because her brain wasn’t quite working properly.
Of course, it was possible to sue for sexual harassment over grabbing a wrist.
Kang Geon pondered for a moment.
‘It’d be better to be sued for assault rather than sexual harassment, right? My strength is sealed, so even if I hit her, I won’t kill her.’
As he finished his thought, Kang Geon raised his hand.
“I won’t hit you with my fist.”
“What, what? Why are you saying you’re going to hit me suddenly?”
“You hit her first, so it’s only fair you take a hit too.”
Kang Geon pointed at Shin So-mang.
The delinquent girl saw Kang Geon’s large hand and got scared.
If she took a hit from that hand, she was done for.
It’d be like getting hit by a truck.
With such thoughts, she turned to her boyfriend for help.
The local delinquent kingpin.
Known as a rabid dog with anger management issues, he’d crash into anyone if he didn’t like them, no matter how big they were.
But…
“Are you her boyfriend?”
“Yes, brother.”
Before Kang Geon, he had turned into a submissive dog.
This was survival instinct.
Unlike other men she’d seen before, the man before her was instinctively recognized as an absolute powerhouse he could never defeat.
It felt like a knife couldn’t even pierce that man’s muscles.
The male delinquent bowed respectfully.
“I’m sorry.”
“What are you doing? Why are you apologizing?”
No matter how the female delinquent yelled and screamed.
The male delinquent didn’t dare defy Kang Geon for the sake of his own life.
He judged that if he angered him, he wouldn’t have any life left.
And he frowned as he looked at his girlfriend.
What did she think she could rely on in front of that man?
Did she think she could win?
Did she not think about the possibility of getting hurt?
He couldn’t help but sigh at the thought of such a foolish girl.
From that day on, he vowed to avoid getting tangled up with empty-headed girls like her.
“When have you seen me to call me brother? Anyway, I’m just going to hit your girlfriend once. If you have an issue, you can take a hit instead.”
“She’s not my girlfriend anymore. We just broke up. Now she’s a complete stranger to me, so feel free to hit her as much as you want.”
“You crazy b*stard!”
With the delinquent girl’s final scream.
Kang Geon‘s palm ruthlessly struck her face.
Her body flew into the air with the impact.
Thud!
The delinquent girl fell to the ground, blood and a few teeth spilling from her mouth.
Unconscious and not moving.
Fortunately, she hadn’t died.