Chapter 19: The Executioner Saves the World (2)

I had already finished reading the book once.

However, I didn’t know if things would unfold as written.

Han Yu-sung’s regression had also been completely twisted by the system’s intervention.

‘There were many strange things.’

“The Scoundrel Saves the World,” unlike other novels, had very little description of the surrounding characters.

In particular, most of the situations were presented only through Kim Seo-gun’s monologues.

I had hoped to learn about future events through the novel, but…..

‘It seems like only the bare minimum of the story is written.’

If everything was written, it would be no different from a book of prophecy.

This isn’t a world inside the book.

If it were, the stories of the other children at Lava Elementary School would have been written as well.

‘The book only contains Kim Seo-gun’s story, and the other kids get a one-line description at most.’

This book, filled with magical power, could essentially be considered an artifact.

I don’t know what functions it has, though.

The system remains silent, providing no information whatsoever.

Did someone write down a part of this world and give it to Kim Seo-gun?

That was the inference I came to after much deliberation last night.

Perhaps Kim Seo-gun received this book from someone in the previous world and then possessed this body…

It’s just a guess, but it’s the most realistic one.

The most likely suspect is still the system, isn’t it?

It’s most likely that the system did this to create talents who could save the world.

Still, I was able to learn a lot thanks to the book.

‘Looking at this, I wonder if the system is on my side or trying to hinder me.’

The system and I are simply in a symbiotic relationship; I shouldn’t completely trust and follow it.

I scratched my head and sighed.

‘I need to get my phone fixed too.’

I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t been able to go to the repair shop.

I hope my disciples aren’t causing trouble in Seoul.

Nah, no way. If they were, it would already be on the news.

The news was clean, with no major incidents.

Thanks to Yoon Kang-hyun’s intervention, there was no mention of the Shin Ahyeon kidnapping case either.

“Teacher.”

Whoa! You scared me!

Han Yu-sung, without making a sound, grabbed my sleeve.

I’m going to have a heart attack at this rate! Make some noise when you approach!

“What’s wrong?”

“…I want to go to Seoul.”

Huh? What’s this all of a sudden?

Out of the blue, he wants to go to Seoul?

Han Yu-sung wasn’t the type to act on his personal desires.

[“I can’t say that a talent who will become great in the future is in Seoul.”]

As expected, he doesn’t deviate from expectations.

If Han Yu-sung mentions that someone is a great talent, they’re at least an S-class.

Certainly, reinforcing our forces is an important task.

The children are talents who will save the world, but they need people to support them from behind.

Since I need to get my phone fixed anyway, it would be good to go up to Seoul.

And see my disciples’ faces once.

“Let’s go to Seoul when we have time later.”

Ah, did I answer too easily?

Han Yu-sung narrowed his eyes and gave me a suspicious look.

“So, it’s okay for me to take you along since I have business in Seoul too.”

“…I see.”

I’m not a geezer, but “I see” to your teacher?

When will Han Yu-sung open his heart?

I succeeded in winning over Yoon Chun-woo and Shin Ahyeon to some extent, but it wasn’t complete yet.

Their trust level is below 50 percent.

To properly use the Investment Genius skill, I need to have at least 50 trust.

I also need to collect the points I used up last time later.

Ugh… I still have a long way to go.

Looking at Han Yu-sung, whose trust level is still in the single digits, makes my head throb.

“Hey, young man! That way, they’re calling for you!”

As the grandmother said, the figure of a middle-aged woman standing on the ridge of the field came into view.

I knew who she was.

She was Kim Seo-gun’s guardian and nanny.

“What brings you here?”

The nanny didn’t answer my question right away.

She glared at Kim Seo-gun for a moment before opening her mouth.

“I would like to have a conversation with you about Young Master.”

★★★

The place where Kim Seo-gun lived was no different from a magnificent palace. Clean marble floors and expensive furniture were scattered everywhere.

Well, he is the youngest son of the Kangsan Group, so he should live like this.

Because it was far from school, it took thirty minutes by car.

The car itself costs over a million dollars.

Let’s see, with the money I’ve collected now… Not even close.

I thought I had saved a lot, but…

In front of a real rich person, it was a hopelessly meager amount.

“Why did you bring Teacher?”

“I brought him because I have something to say for a moment.”

With a pouty expression, Kim Seo-gun tapped his feet.

“Young Master is living in a very good place.”

Yoon Chun-woo, who came along, looked around as if he was amazed.

I was originally planning to go alone.

Just as I was about to move the location, Yoon Chun-woo said he wanted to go to his friend’s house and followed me.

“Hey! Don’t touch that!”

“Ahem, it’s not desirable for friends to be stingy with their belongings.”

Did I bring him for nothing?

It’s nice to see him looking happy, but…

I glanced at the nanny’s expression.

“Young Master has a friend…”

I guess it was just my paranoia.

Rather, the nanny seemed touched by the fact that Kim Seo-gun had a friend.

‘Huh? There are traces of cracks on the ceramics?’

The ceramics arranged in a row were full of cracks.

“Ah, those are the ones that Young Master broke when he was angry, so you don’t have to worry about them.”

She must have thought I was interested because I kept looking at the ceramics.

It seems like he’s faithfully playing the scoundrel even at home.

“Then shall we have a conversation?”

“Young Master, while I’m talking to the teacher, could you go to your room with your friend for a moment?”

Kim Seo-gun made a displeased expression.

“It’s about me anyway, right? Then it shouldn’t matter if I listen too, right?”

“That’s… because it’s an important story that adults have to tell.”

“No way!”

He stubbornly resisted as if he wouldn’t budge an inch.

I knew why Kim Seo-gun was resisting so desperately.

He’s full of confidence, but his fingertips are trembling slightly.

I gave a signal to Yoon Chun-woo, who was stuffing his mouth with chocolate.

He’s eating all the snacks that were put out.

Yoon Chun-woo firmly grabbed Kim Seo-gun’s waist and dragged him into the room.

“Wh-what are you doing!”

“Young Master, let’s have a deep conversation between men for a moment.”

“What are you talking about… Whoa!”

He lifted Kim Seo-gun into the room with his superhuman strength.

Wow… amazing.

Only silence flowed in the space where the two children had disappeared.

“So, what is it that you wanted to say?”

Unable to bear the silence, I opened my mouth first.

“That’s… the Chairman is very worried about the school collapsing.”

I know what the next line will be.

The boundary between text and reality trembles uneasily like a bowstring.

“We want to transfer Young Master to another school.”

Kim Seo-gun’s transfer event was originally supposed to happen several years later.

I expected it, but the start of the incident was accelerated, perhaps due to the system’s intervention.

A lot, too.

‘I have to stop Kim Seo-gun from transferring.’

The reason why the Chairman is trying to transfer Kim Seo-gun is simple.

To offer his son as a sacrifice, like picking ripe fruit.

As the first step, he’s thinking of sending him to a school within his territory to monitor him.

To think of offering his own child as a sacrifice.

That’s one crazy bastard.

The businessman who smiled to help the underprivileged was cold to his son.

I cursed a lot while reading the book.

‘How can you discriminate against your youngest son and your eldest son?’

The reason why Kim Seo-gun acted like a scoundrel was solely to survive.

To impress upon those he believed to be family that he was incompetent.

The more I think about it, the more frustrated I get.

If the Chairman’s face was in front of me, I would have cursed him out.

“He only came to this school because Young Master insisted on it. Unfortunately, we’re going to transfer him to a school in Seoul.”

“If you’re going to transfer him, I’d like to meet Kim Seo-gun’s parents and have a conversation directly.”

“Yes? But the Chairman is not someone you can meet easily… Especially not you, Teacher…”

The nanny showed a difficult reaction and trailed off.

I can’t believe this.

A mere rural teacher can’t even meet the Chairman?

“Can’t he spare even an hour for his son?”

I put on a business smile and spoke in a soft tone.

The Chairman of the Kangsan Group was known to the public for his harmonious family atmosphere.

“…I’ll mention it to the Chairman first.”

If the Chairman is worried about his image being damaged, he won’t be able to say he won’t come out.

I’ll probably get a call saying he’ll meet soon.

Bang-!

Kim Seo-gun’s tightly closed door swung open.

What happened to Yoon Chun-woo, who was stalling for time in the room?

“Y-Young Master? Where’s your friend?”

“He’s eating snacks.”

Crunch, the sound of crackers breaking echoed in my ears.

It seemed like he had been bought off with snacks.

I only asked him to buy me a little time, but he fell for the snacks!?

Kim Seo-gun, standing between me and the nanny, raised his eyes.

He looked like he would lash out and attack if touched.

Kim Seo-gun took a deep breath, opening his mouth wide and puffing out his chest.

‘Uh… wait… this is a scene I’ve seen a lot before?’

Having raised many children, I quickly realized what Kim Seo-gun was about to do.

I hurriedly covered my ears tightly with both hands.

“I’m not transferring!”

The pitch of the child’s voice was amazing.

If there was a singer who could break a wine glass with their song, I would believe it was Kim Seo-gun.

I… I think my ears are gone.

I felt like I was hearing tinnitus from the ultrasonic waves that strongly hit my eardrums.

“Young Master, the transfer has already been decided by the Chairman.”

“If my father tells me to transfer, I have to go!? Wherever I am, whatever I do, my life is mine!”

Um… I’m here too, you know?

Forgetting my existence, the argument between the nanny and Kim Seo-gun began.

The nanny’s eyebrows, which seemed like they would smile even if you cursed and went crazy, shot up.

I could see how scary someone who doesn’t get angry often can be when they do get angry.

The nanny’s appearance overlapped with that of a goblin.

“I can’t listen to Young Master’s stubbornness this time!”

“But if I go, what about my friends who are left here!” Have you ever cared about your friends?

He usually got along well with Yoon Chun-woo.

The problem is that it’s just a superficial friendship.

He’s just awkwardly friendly because he needs someone to talk to.

From Kim Seo-gun’s point of view, who has to struggle to survive, he has to give any reason.

“Seo-gun is friendly with all his friends, so it will probably be hard to say goodbye. He’s a student I cherish, so I feel the same way.”

I put my hand on Kim Seo-gun’s shoulder and spoke sadly.

I really could be an actor.

Seriously, wouldn’t my acting be marketable in the movie industry?

Kim Seo-gun, who looked at me, stared as if I had eaten something wrong.

[“Are you seriously calling that acting?”]

Ugh! Is that what you think!

I thought I was a pretty good actor…

That’s not how it looked in Kim Seo-gun’s eyes.

Would it hurt you to think I’m good? “That’s right! I don’t want to leave Teacher either.”

Realizing my intention, Kim Seo-gun hurriedly added.

The nanny crossed her arms and gave me a suspicious look.

“Is that true?”

“Of course!”

Her raised eyebrows lowered again.

The nanny let out a breath mixed with worry and a little anger.

“Haa… I’ll try to arrange a meeting with the Chairman first.”

There’s no adult who can win against a child.

<<The only person I could trust was the nanny.>>

As described in the book, the nanny cherished Kim Seo-gun more than anyone else.

Kim Seo-gun had spent more time with the nanny than his own mother since he was born.

“Then please take good care of Young Master until I meet with the Chairman.”

There was no lie in the words “please take good care of him.”

Unlike the other family members, she was purely and genuinely concerned about Kim Seo-gun.

“Leave it to me.”