Chapter 107

Chapter 107

Raise Three Idols Well And They’ll Launch a Confession Attack.

Episode 107: You’re Done Now.

Moving my body to its limits and using only the most efficient movements, as dictated by the Swordmaster’s Sense, made my entire body feel as if my joints were creaking in pain.

Especially my right hand, which was the focal point of my strikes, throbbed painfully despite being wrapped.

However, I pretended not to feel any of that pain as I casually walked towards Ban Seongcheol.

“…Don’t come any closer.”

I laughed at him and said,

“Seongcheol, didn’t you say to beat me down so I can’t act up?”

Thanks to the Swordmaster’s Sense, I had taken care of most of the situation, and soon, Cheon Aram and Yeoreum would arrive once they were ready. All I needed to do was stall for time.

But the only remaining concern was that bastard hurting Oh Yoori and Seo Eun-byeol in his desperation.

“So, this is the result? Aren’t you embarrassed?”

As I spoke to him, I gradually closed the distance between Ban Seongcheol, Oh Yoori, and Seo Eun-byeol, drawing his attention toward me.

“…I said, don’t come closer.”

Seo Eun-byeol, whose legs had given out, could only watch me anxiously, but Oh Yoori, who had collapsed and was holding her stomach while breathing heavily, nodded to me and slowly crawled toward me without making a sound.

I hoped Ban Seongcheol wouldn’t notice her, so I continued to provoke him with my words to keep his focus on me.

“Unlike you, I’m generous and considerate, so if you kneel down and raise your hands now, I won’t beat you—”

“I said don’t come closer!”

Shaking with fear, Ban Seongcheol suddenly pulled out a knife and charged toward the two girls.

“Shit.”

I instinctively rushed to protect the girls, but Ban Seongcheol was closer.

Just as I ran, thinking I should at least protect Oh Yoori, who was closer, she grabbed her trembling legs and stood up, heading toward Ban Seongcheol instead of toward me, in what would have been a guaranteed moment of protection.

Her intentions were obvious.

Oh Yoori had chosen to become Ban Seongcheol’s hostage instead of letting Seo Eun-byeol, who couldn’t move, be taken.

As a result, Ban Seongcheol grabbed Oh Yoori instead of Seo Eun-byeol, and I ended up protecting Seo Eun-byeol, who was closer to me.

“Huff, huff.”

Ban Seongcheol, panting heavily, grabbed Oh Yoori and held a knife to her neck with a trembling hand.

I did my best to cool the rage rising to the top of my head and spoke calmly.

“Seongcheol, let’s calm down. What are you going to do if a future top idol like Oh Yoori gets a scar on her face from that thing?”

“Haa… If you want me to put this away, step back ten paces first.”

I complied with his request.

“Alright, I’ve stepped back ten paces, just like you said. Now, put down the knife. You don’t really want to hurt Oh Yoori, right? Think of everything you’ve invested in her. You’re not a businessman who works at a loss, are you?”

“Screw that. The moment this bitch caused all this mess, any idea of a peaceful investment was over… Actually, heh, it’s the same result anyway. I was planning to tie her into sponsorship deals after she became an A-list celebrity. The only difference is that it’s happening a little faster. Nothing’s changed.”

This bastard, seriously.

“…Alright. If you don’t want to see her throat slit, tie your hands with that necktie. Make sure it’s tight enough that it won’t come loose before those dumb thugs wake up. Seo Eun-byeol! You tie it!”

This was a dangerous demand. If I followed through, not only would I lose my own safety, but Oh Yoori and Seo Eun-byeol’s as well.

Just like I did in the past, I gently patted her head, hoping to reassure her. Then, glaring at Ban Seongcheol with a look that conveyed more anger than tension, I spoke.

“What do you plan to do if I give up on Oh Yoori’s safety and rush at you? Right now, I’m so pissed off at your outrageous demands that I feel like flipping everything upside down. Honestly speaking, I don’t care that much if Oh Yoori gets hurt. It’s just a ‘better if I protect her’ situation.”

Ban Seongcheol, trying to appear confident, forced a smile and said,

“Haha… You really think you would? Whether this bitch promised to sleep with you or give you money, something must have made you come here and cause this mess, right? You wouldn’t just stand by and let your client get hurt, would you?”

“…You bastard. Stop thinking that everyone in the world is like you. Neither Oh Yoori nor I are those kinds of people.”

“Don’t give me that crap. Everyone in this world hides their filthy desires under a mask of hypocrisy. You and her are no different.”

“……”

Ban Seongcheol pressed the back of the knife hard against Oh Yoori’s neck, speaking threateningly.

“Shut up and tie your hands. If not, you’re going to watch someone die here. Do you think I won’t do it?”

With bloodshot eyes and trembling hands, Ban Seongcheol seemed like the type who might not think of the consequences and actually go through with it.

I didn’t want to gamble Oh Yoori’s life on the chance that Ban Seongcheol was bluffing.

“Eun-byeol, could you tie it for me?”

“Huh? But if I do that…”

“Please.”

“……”

There was no other choice.

For now, I had to follow Ban Seongcheol’s demands and hold out until Cheon Aram, Seo Soo-yeon, Jin Yeoreum, and Seok Hyun-woo arrived.

I untied the necktie that was wrapped around my right hand and handed it to her.

Seo Eun-byeol, holding the loosened necktie, began to seriously deliberate on what to do.

I smiled at her reassuringly and said,

“Tie it, please.”

“Please don’t, Team Leader Seon.”

It was Oh Yoori.

“I’m fine, so please don’t listen to Ban Seongcheol. Just take Eun-byeol and run. That’s the only solution.”

“You damn bitch, just shut up already!”

“Keuk… keulk.”

Ban Seongcheol pressed the back of the knife harshly against Oh Yoori’s neck to stop her from speaking.

Seeing that, my rising anger seemed to make my mind go blank.

“……”

Rationally, Oh Yoori’s suggestion was the best course of action.

If I didn’t threaten him, Ban Seongcheol likely wouldn’t make any drastic decisions.

Also, with reinforcements on the way, there was a high chance that Oh Yoori would be safe.

Taking Seo Eun-byeol, whom I could certainly save, and escaping might actually be the safest option for everyone.

But I didn’t want to turn my back on her and run.

Never.

At that moment, a message popped up in front of me.

[No blade may be raised in the presence of the wielder of the ‘Swordmaster’s Sense’ without permission.]

…What?

Slowly reading and understanding the message, I looked at the knife Ban Seongcheol was holding as if entranced.

I felt as if the knife and I were physically connected.

It felt like I could move it, just like a cat retracts its claws.

I bet everything on that feeling.

“Seongcheol, a thought just crossed my mind. Is that a fake knife? It’s strange that you’re pressing so hard, but there’s no wound.”

“What are you talking about? Of course, there’s no wound. I’m pressing with the back of the knife, you idiot!”

“Well, from this distance, I can’t tell if it’s the back of the knife or the blade. For all I know, you could be threatening me with a toy knife. It would be embarrassing to be fooled like that, right? So, just give me a little proof, and I’ll follow your orders unconditionally.”

“Proof? What kind of proof?”

I swallowed nervously before speaking.

“Why don’t you try cutting a little piece of Oh Yoori’s hoodie with that knife? If it cuts, then it’s real, right?”

“……”

“If you just prove that, I won’t just follow your orders passively; I’ll even wake up those men for you right now. You must be nervous waiting for them to wake up, right?”

“……”

After giving me a suspicious look, Ban Seongcheol finally began to slice at the neck of Oh Yoori’s hoodie.

“What the…? Why isn’t it cutting? Ah.”

“……”

The knife couldn’t even cut through the fabric. Not a single thread.

Seeing that, I couldn’t help but smile and said.

“…It didn’t cut, huh?”

Realizing that something was wrong with the knife, Ban Seongcheol quickly let go of Oh Yoori and made a run for it.

His decision-making and speed were impressive, but he couldn’t be faster than me, who had already anticipated his move.

I quickly overtook him and blocked his escape route.

Reflexively, Ban Seongcheol swung the knife at me, but with a swift roundhouse kick, I struck his wrist, easily disarming him.

The knife flew through the air, clattering to the ground with a metallic clang.

Ban Seongcheol looked back and forth between his hand and me, trembling as he spoke in a pitiful voice.

“Wait a second, Taeyang… I mean, Mr. Taeyang, let’s just calm down for a moment…”

Calm down? What nonsense.

“Seongcheol, when I beat up those men, I made sure to hold back so they wouldn’t have any lasting damage. They probably aren’t in much pain. When they wake up, they won’t have any serious injuries. I can control it like that.”

The Swordmaster’s Sense allowed for such precision.

“R-really? That’s impressive. But why are you telling me this…?”

“But you, on the other hand, are going to be in a lot of pain. This time, I’ll do the opposite.”

“…What?”

I didn’t bother with any more explanations.

“Bite down hard.”

I poured all the pent-up resentment from the past into giving Ban Seongcheol a proper lesson.

“Aaaagh!”

Of course, it was physical education.