Chapter 30 Part 5: Commission – Violence

“H-How? How are you going to do it?”

Success.

A subtle expectation began to creep into Eun-ji’s expression.

She had been trying to just endure the remaining two years, but that wouldn’t be easy. She knew that better than anyone.

She was only enduring it because there was no other way.

She probably knew better than anyone that it was a near impossible task.

But then one day, a suspicious person shows up and says they can solve everything.

If someone lowered a rope of unknown origin…

Then, as a human, you’d grab that rope first.

Even if it’s a rotten rope, there’s nothing to lose if you’re already drowning in a lake.

“Before that, Eun-ji, how have you been bullied?”

“W-Why are you asking that all of a sudden?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to pay them back? For everything you’ve suffered so far.”

I slammed my hand on Eun-ji’s desk, leaning so far forward that I thought my eyelashes might touch.

Then, Haran screamed in horror, assaulting my eardrums.

“The same way, pay them back the same way. Just killing them would be unfair, right? You have to make them repay you the same way you were treated…”

[W-What are you doing?! Get away from her right now! What are you doing to that child…!]

“…Tch, seriously. I was trying to set the mood. Haran, what’s wrong all of a sudden? You ruined everything.”

[What mood?! Are you crazy!? Oh, my god, suddenly such a scandalous…! ]

“Scandalous? What are you talking about? I think it’s good to put pressure on her to get what I want in this situation. What are you even thinking?”

[Huh? I thought you were kissing… Ah, never mind!]

What on earth is she thinking?

I sighed at her absurd misunderstanding.

“I don’t have a thing for minors, okay? And what’s with the kissing? I’ve never even done it before.”

[Oh, really…. I’m sorry….]

“Sorry, Eun-ji. The mood’s all broken.”

“Ah, no, it’s okay.”

I knew that Haran was shy about sexual topics, but she’s even more prudish than I thought.

I didn’t think her tolerance would be low enough to think leaning in equaled kissing.

Anyways, what should I do?

It’s really hard to get someone re-immersed when the atmosphere is broken like this.

“…Um, are you really going to pay them back the same way?”

“Yeah. If you want, I can just take care of it cleanly…”

“No. Pay them back. The same way.”

Fortunately, Eun-ji didn’t seem to care about the ruined atmosphere.

Was she only paying attention to what I had said earlier?

“I’ll tell you everything. So, please pay them back. If you can.”

“If I can? …It kind of hurts my pride when you say it like that.”

She probably meant it as, if it’s impossible, you don’t have to do it.

But I was genuinely taken aback by Eun-ji’s statement.

Who am I?

I’m someone who has even brought a megacorp to the brink of collapse.

And yet, you think I’ll fail against a few students?

No matter how much fear they inspire as children of high-ranking officials, it means nothing to me.

I’ve personally grabbed the necks of their parents, not just their children, multiple times.

The question you should be asking me isn’t whether it’s possible.

You should be asking how I can do it.

“Just tell me anything. I’ll satisfy you perfectly.”

Have I been hiding too much?

I need to build up my reputation.

Very definitely. So that everyone knows my name just by hearing it.

“Well then…”

“Take your seats. Class is starting.”

“…Let’s talk later?”

The atmosphere is being broken frequently today. …Oh well, can’t be helped.

I returned to my seat with a dissatisfied expression.

“Okay, so today’s class is…”

“Haran, please take care of the class.”

[Sigh.]

And, I started acting like a diligent student.

Borrowing Haran’s knowledge.

Lunchtime at the academy.

The students who were smiling gleefully at the thought of messing with Eun-ji again today tilted their heads at the unusual scene.

A female student they had never seen before was sitting next to Eun-ji, talking to her.

“…Who is that?”

“I don’t know. A transfer student, apparently.”

“A transfer student? To the academy?”

A transfer student.

It’s not like there’s only one academy, but there aren’t that many academies because the number of awakened people is quite small.

Therefore, in order to transfer, you inevitably have to travel a long distance, and naturally, the number of transfer students is extremely small.

At least, this was the first transfer student they had seen since coming to the academy.

“Interesting.”

“Right?”

They smiled, thinking they had found an interesting toy.

All the other kids were boring.

When they played around with Eun-ji, the other kids would avoid eye contact as if trying to avoid getting involved.

They’re so boring that it’s unbearable.

But what about that transfer student?

A face that captivates the attention of those around her. The unique status of being a transfer student. And, the audacity to talk to Eun-ji despite the fact that the people around her must have stopped her.

…This will be fun.

“Hello, transfer student. Nice to meet you.”

“…Who are you?”

As they approached the transfer student, who was putting on a friendly face and talking to Eun-ji, the transfer student looked at them.

The moment they met her red eyes, they felt an indescribable sense of unease, but…

They were actually more interested in that fact.

“We’re Eun-ji’s friends.”

“Ah, so it’s you guys? Nice to meet you.”

What would it feel like to see this transfer student cry?

What kind of screams would she make?

Once she realizes that she can’t resist us in any way, how will she beg?

They smiled as they imagined what would happen.

“We’ve heard a lot about you from Eun-ji.”

“Really? What did she say?”

“That you’re all kind, and friendly… and that you’ve been a great help.”

“Really? Haha, that’s embarrassing.”

Eun-ji said that?

They looked at Eun-ji as if surprised, but she was just hanging her head low.

Normally, they would have pressed her about what she meant by those words…

But they decided not to question Eun-ji.

Because there was someone even more interesting in front of them.

“Ah, sorry, can I go now? I promised to eat lunch with Eun-ji.”

“…Instead of that, why don’t you eat with us? We’re quite close to Eun-ji. We often eat lunch with Eun-ji. Right?”

“Y-Yeah. That’s right.”

“Since you’re a transfer student, you probably don’t know the area well, so we’ll teach you things. How about it?”

“Hmm….”

They subtly stroked Eun-ji’s side as they waited for the transfer student’s answer.

The area they had hit a few days ago, which was barely visible because it was hidden by her clothes.

It’s about time she started writhing in pain and tearing up?

When they turned their heads at the unusual reaction, Eun-ji was covering her mouth, suppressing a scream.

Is it because the transfer student is here?

…Interesting.

“Okay. I’ll go.”

“Good choice.”

Lately, Eun-ji’s reactions have been getting similar, so they were getting tired of it.

Maybe it’s because the transfer student came, but Eun-ji’s reaction has become refreshing, and the corners of their mouths twitched.

It hasn’t been long, but they’re already that close?

Then, if someone who has become close to her suffers because of them, what kind of reaction will she show?

Gradually, an indelible smile began to bloom on their faces.

Looking around, the still uninteresting guys were avoiding their gazes, trying not to get involved with Eun-ji and the transfer student.

Receiving those ordinary and uninteresting gazes, they headed to the academy’s cafeteria.

“What does the transfer student like? The udon is pretty good here.”

“Really? Then I’ll have that.”

They were still wearing fake smiles as they looked at the transfer student and Eun-ji.

What would it feel like to see Eun-ji’s hope shattered and the transfer student look betrayed?

It would definitely be unbearably funny and unbearably entertaining.

How should they bully her?

Should they accidentally hit her face during practice like last time?

Or should they dump dirty water on her head in a way that Eun-ji hates?

Maybe it would be okay to act like they’re really getting along.

Without paying attention to Eun-ji’s anxious gaze, they could really build a friendship.

When Eun-ji, who doesn’t know what’s going on, finally has hope that the bullying is over…

If they crush that hope again.

That would definitely be fun too.

Ah, I’m looking forward to it. How should they play with her?

Just when everyone’s hearts were filled with anticipation.

The transfer student received the udon and approached them, asking.

“Is this really that good?”

“Yeah. It’s a decent meal for academy food. If you eat it, it’s not bad… Kkeuaaaaaack?!”

Thud.

Everyone’s mouths dropped open at the scene that unfolded in an instant.

・What just happened?

They saw it clearly with their own eyes, but their brains were slow to process because it was such an absurd action.

His head was slammed into the hot udon soup.

Who?

The guy who was bragging about being the son of a judge. The guy who was recommending the udon to the transfer student, saying it was decent.

Why?

…Because the transfer student slammed his head into the udon soup.

“Ahaha, sorry. My hand slipped?”

“Aaaack, aaaaaack…! My, my face…! You b*tch!”

Watching the transfer student laugh as she looked at the cafeteria that had instantly become a scene of chaos, they finally realized.

She wasn’t a toy.

She was a completely crazy b*tch.