Ch.107107. Threads of Counterattack

In front of the instructors, Kim Cheon-gi was conducting an interview. The issue concerned Do Jong-hyun reporting that “friends other than himself” were being bullied. But something went wrong here.

“Come on, stop lying. Trust us, okay? We can arrange it so you don’t have to see the second-years until graduation. Are you really not being bullied?”

“No. Jong-hyun misunderstood.”

“…”

Oh Ju-hwan scratched his short hair. They had launched an investigation because there was clearly evidence related to hazing or bullying.

While the video itself was enough to raise suspicions about hazing, the problem was they couldn’t identify who was involved.

More precisely, Kim Cheon-gi had made it appear that way. The boy gritted his teeth.

His disappointment at being betrayed outweighed any guilt he felt toward his friend.

That’s why he had joined forces with Yu Deok-min. After all, it was Deok-min who had told him about Jong-hyun dating Seol Yu-hwa.

Once Kim Cheon-gi switched sides, Yu Deok-min devised a plan.

That plan was now in motion. Kim Cheon-gi was telling lies.

From the beginning, Yu Deok-min’s aggressive behavior toward Su-cheon and Hui-min was all an act in front of Do Jong-hyun.

Like Kim Cheon-gi, they also denied the truth during the investigation.

That left only the video evidence. Min Gang-su had the full version.

“This was just us playing around. It was a penalty game. Just a penalty.”

Min Gang-su’s video showed first-years divided into teams, competing with the losing side receiving the “Wonsan bombing” punishment.

Oh Ju-hwan compared the videos and confirmed they were indeed the same.

Min Gang-su grinned.

“Jong-hyun doesn’t get along with the second-years. I think he was trying to fabricate something in his panic.”

“…”

Moreover, everyone in the video was receiving special classes. Due to pressure from the second-years and Yu Deok-min’s manipulation, they were reluctant to speak up.

In other words, interviewing them would inevitably yield the same answers.

The conclusion was predictable.

“Our investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing. However, be warned that if we catch anyone bullying juniors, you’ll face immediate disciplinary action.”

They had to retreat with just a formal warning.

This put Do Jong-hyun in the worst possible situation.

Bang Seok-cheon seized the opportunity to press the attack. In fact, the situation had turned in their favor since the second-years couldn’t directly touch Do Jong-hyun after the previous incident.

They boldly called for Do Jong-hyun.

“Do you hate us that much? Trying to frame us with false accusations. You’ve got guts.”

“This bastard, how dare he treat his seniors like this! We should teach him a lesson!”

Baek Dong-guk lunged forward but stopped himself.

“Oh, you’ll report us again, right? Answer me. Are you going to report this too? I’m too scared to hit you. What, are you going to report this too?”

“This junior tried to frame us with fabricated evidence. We’d be in big trouble if we touched him.”

Bang Seok-cheon’s expression showed he’d found a new toy.

“Ah, that’s right. Hey, what are you going to do?”

Kim Cheon-gi and Yu Deok-min stood alongside the second-years pressuring Do Jong-hyun.

There was only one thing Do Jong-hyun could do here.

“I’m sorry. I caused trouble by misunderstanding.”

Humiliating as it was, he had to apologize. After all, the evidence he presented was fake, and the second-years were the victims.

Kim Cheon-gi’s heart trembled as he watched Do Jong-hyun apologize.

“Phew.”

“Hey, Kim Cheon-gi. You’re with us now. Don’t get any other ideas. Do Jong-hyun is finished anyway. Don’t waste your sympathy on him.”

Yu Deok-min warned him just in case.

“…”

“Do Jong-hyun betrayed you first. He met a girl you said you liked after just one day. And then he planned to take on the second-years? That’s truly exceptional, even for him.”

From that point on, Do Jong-hyun was treated as if he didn’t exist.

At least, all the second-years refused to speak to him or associate with him.

It was like being ostracized in the military.

Kim Cheon-gi had successfully deceived Do Jong-hyun and pushed him into the worst possible situation.

*

A week into November, the situation had become nearly as bad as it could get.

“Instructor, I don’t want to work with that kid.”

A second-year senior was openly speaking about me.

“Want to talk nonsense again?”

“He doesn’t listen properly and might stab us. It’s disgusting.”

“Speaking so openly like that is a form of bullying.”

“We’re the victims here. We were investigated for no reason!”

With that kind of response, neither Oh Ju-hwan nor the other instructors could easily intervene.

It was becoming a problem.

“Refuse one more time like that and you’ll get penalty points.”

“Fine… Hey, just follow along.”

There was no way proper training could happen in this state. It was taboo for me to point out mistakes made by others.

I was perceptive enough to know what would happen if I did.

The problem was that even when I just quietly provided support, I faced retaliatory abuse.

It was what they call “giving someone a hard time” in the military or physical education departments.

“Ah, the problem is we have a weak combatant.”

“Hey, he can hear us. If this gets recorded, we’re done for.”

“Seriously, he’s so incompetent.”

I could endure this in the practice room since it would end soon.

The real problem was that the atmosphere among the first-years had completely changed.

Within three days of the incident, everything had transformed.

That bastard Kim Cheon-gi avoided me and stuck with Yu Deok-min.

The other dormitory students still stayed by my side, but things had become more difficult.

Yu Deok-min had started controlling the junior class.

Somehow, that guy had gained influence over the junior class.

“Everyone should participate in the special classes. That’s how you’ll improve. Skip it? Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Hey, can’t you see how much Deok-min and I have grown? Just participate. It’s for your own good.”

They forced everyone to join the special classes.

I glared at Kim Cheon-gi. How could you, of all people, do this to me?

I waited for a chance to catch Kim Cheon-gi alone. Until recently, Yu Deok-min had been protecting him like a guardian, but lately there had been gaps.

Finally, I managed to meet Kim Cheon-gi in the bathroom.

“Cheon-gi.”

“…”

“Don’t deliberately ignore me. Why did you do it?”

I blocked his path. Kim Cheon-gi looked up at me.

“Don’t you owe me an apology?”

“Are you talking about Seol Yu-hwa? You pretended it wasn’t about that, but in the end, it was? It was arranged before I talked to you. And we’re not even dating.”

“Oh, really? Since you’re not dating, I guess you can two-time all you want.”

“That’s not it! Why are you twisting my words? Cheon-gi, I understand you might misunderstand about that. I’m sorry about it. But why did you side with Yu Deok-min and do something like that? It’s not good for any of us!”

Kim Cheon-gi pushed my arm away.

“Shut up, you hypocrite! Even though you were getting abused by the second-years and had bad relations with Yu Deok-min, I still tried to stay with you. You betrayed me first. You stabbed me in the back.”

“No, didn’t you say you understood when we talked before? Was that all lies?”

“…”

“And is this what you really want, making me look like an idiot with fabrications? It’s all true. If you do this, who will believe you when you’re actually victimized later?”

My goal was to ask Kim Cheon-gi to testify again.

But suddenly I felt something strong against my neck, and then I was thrown to the ground.

As I got up, I saw Yu Deok-min.

“What are you doing? What did you say to Cheon-gi?”

“You really care about him, don’t you? Having fun with all this?”

“Listen. Cheon-gi is on our side now. Hey, stop being so pathetic and get lost. Trying to fabricate more lies?”

Yu Deok-min forcibly pushed me away.

“Without your enhancement suit, you’re nothing. How pitiful.”

“…”

I have a summoning spirit, maybe I should just release some magical power.

No, I need to calm down. That wouldn’t help right now.

I’m finished.

Yu Deok-min snickered.

“What happened with the second-years is unfortunate, but what can you do? When it’s not fact but fabrication, everyone’s bound to be angry.”

“You’re involved in this too, aren’t you?”

“What are you talking about? Trying to falsely accuse me like you did with the second-years? Go ahead.”

Yu Deok-min took Cheon-gi and left.

And the landscape of the first-year class began to change.

It started with 90-degree bows to the second-years and evolved to the point where nothing—meals, bringing things to school—was possible without their permission.

I was the exception, of course. More precisely, I wasn’t subjected to group punishments, but I still received the same harassment.

And each time, I could feel the first-years being reprimanded.

Up to this point, it was the same as before. But didn’t I mention that Yu Deok-min had taken control?

What changed was the pressure directed at me.

“Hey, Do Jong-hyun. At least don’t cause trouble for your classmates. I heard you’re not greeting the seniors properly?”

“What are you talking about? I haven’t even seen any seniors. I need to see them face-to-face to decide whether to greet them or not.”

“We’re suffering because of you.”

Yu Deok-min was exploding with anger.

“Then report it.”

“Damn, listen to yourself! We’re the ones suffering because of you! Just try to fit in a little!”

“Stop with this nonsense. Why are you making such a fuss? Are you the class president?”

“Sorry, but everyone except you thinks the same way.”

Su-cheon and Hui-min joined Yu Deok-min.

“Do Jong-hyun. Whether you’re good or not, stop causing us trouble.”

“Honestly, Deok-min is better than you now. Don’t expect people to treat you well like before. Don’t be so arrogant. Let’s try to get along.”

I was furious enough to explode—these weren’t seniors but my own classmates.

They couldn’t help me, yet they were doing this? But the pressure from the entire class was different from before.

In the end, I had no choice but to agree and endure.

“The seniors got chewed out by the instructor today and are in a bad mood. Stay in for a while.”

Yu Deok-min was faithfully relaying the seniors’ orders.

By November 10th, the academy had completely transformed into something resembling a physical education department or military.

In practice, I couldn’t express my opinions, while Yu Deok-min took first place and received praise.

“…”

I don’t really care about first place. At that moment, my eyes met with Ariel’s.

Suddenly, she frowned and made an angry expression.

“Why is she like that?”

She looked frustrated, but I couldn’t know her true feelings.

Next was Seol Yu-hwa. She was watching me from a distance with a pitying expression.

I guess she feels sorry for me. They must know what’s happening.

At that moment, the second-years started gathering the first-years.

“Hey, it’s free time. Let’s see the first-years fight each other.”

They began designating first-years to fight against each other.

Surprisingly, Yu Deok-min showed incredible strength, even defeating intermediate class students.

“Is Yu Deok-min the strongest in the junior class? Anyone want to fight him?”

“Senior, there’s actually someone more famous than me.”

Yu Deok-min pointed at me.

“I don’t know about the intermediate and advanced classes, but everyone thinks Do Jong-hyun is the strongest. I want to change that perception. Tell him to come up.”

“…”

What is that bastard plotting now?

Shin Min-jeong approached with small steps.

“Our scary junior. Would you please come up?”

She wasn’t being respectful; she was clearly mocking me.

“…”

“Oh my. Did I say something wrong? Please don’t report me.”

“I’m not going.”

“You’re not going? Are you crazy?”

Shin Min-jeong’s face changed. What does she expect? But what surprised me were the shouts from other classes.

“Ah! Do Jong-hyun, just go!”

“Just go up and fight!”

“Why do you keep doing this to the seniors!”

When my classmates acted like this, my head throbbed. Whose side are they on?

But this was the result of Yu Deok-min’s control.

I did end up going, but the result was the same. I lasted a bit longer, but still got beaten by Yu Deok-min.

Baek Dong-guk raised his hand.

“Yu Deok-min seems to be the strongest even among the intermediate class. Wow.”

It was as if he was saying it for everyone to hear.

The class ended like that, but I still had matters to attend to.

[Monster Daily]

“I was wondering why this wasn’t showing up.”

I thought it was about time it appeared. And now it does.

Just as I was about to check its contents:

[Do Jong-hyun! Do Jong-hyun, please come to the advanced class office immediately. I repeat, Do Jong-hyun…]

“Advanced class?”

There’s only one person I can think of in the advanced class.

As I entered the office, I felt the cold gazes of the instructors.

I had already become trash who had disrupted the academy with lies, not just to the second-years.

“Welcome, Jong-hyun.”

However, the only one who warmly received me here was Eun Se-rin.

“Shall we have a quick chat in the interview room?”

“What? Why so suddenly?”

Is this about the recent incident? With questions in mind, I entered the interview room where Eun Se-rin smiled meaningfully.

“Having a hard time? Want a hug?”

“I’d like that, but I’m not in the mood.”

“You must be really struggling if you’re refusing.”

Eun Se-rin was smiling happily for some reason. Well, it’s pleasant to see her bright smile, but that doesn’t heal my chaotic school life.

However, she handed me a small envelope.

“What’s this?”

“Isn’t it something important that someone dropped?”

In front of my eyes, I saw red powder.