IH Ch 58

Chapter 58

 

“Awakened individuals aren’t allowed to touch non-Awakened people.”

 

“Those guys over there are Awakened too, so it’s fine.”

 

“……”

 

“And you’re in disguise right now—no one knows it’s you, so you’re good.”

 

At Dohwa’s continued remarks, Jae-i’s expression hardened.

 

He couldn’t understand how Dohwa, who had only seen them from afar, could tell those thugs were Awakened. And what did he mean by saying it was fine because Jae-i was in disguise? They’d come here to avoid stirring up trouble. So what was he supposed to do if things blew up even here?

 

“Are you just going to sit there?”

 

“……”

 

At the same time, a faint look of disappointment spread across Dohwa’s eyes as he looked at Jae-i. For a moment, it was almost an expression of betrayal, which left Jae-i speechless with disbelief. Who are you to look at me like that? He was about to say something but found he couldn’t.

 

Jae-i stared at Dohwa in silence, then slowly stood up. Resting one hand on the table and leaning slightly toward Dohwa, he spoke.

 

“Then promise me one thing. That you’ll answer a few questions I ask today without lying. Honestly.”

 

“……”

 

“No matter what, you absolutely cannot lie to me.”

 

Dohwa’s pupils quivered slightly. Then, taking a deep breath in and out, he gave a short nod. Alright.

 

“…If you break that promise, I won’t let it slide.”

 

With those words, Jae-i strode swiftly toward the café entrance. The woman, startled, rushed to stop him.

 

“You can’t go out there! Do you have any idea how dangerous and malicious those people outside are…!”

 

“It’s fine. He’s more dangerous than they are.”

 

Whether that was meant to reassure her or take a jab at Dohwa, it was unclear. When Jae-i saw Dohwa enthusiastically waving both hands as if urging him to hurry, he muttered, This guy… Then, recalling the delicious janchiguksu and bibimbap the elderly had made for them, he clicked his tongue. Fine. Let’s pay for the meal, he thought as he headed down quickly.

 

The woman, left watching Jae-i go, helplessly wrung her hands in distress and turned to look at Dohwa.

 

“It really is dangerous.”

 

“……”

 

Dohwa walked over to the mother and son and closed the open door. Then, looking at Jaehyun, he said,

 

“When he comes back after taking care of everything, I’ll model for you.”

 

“Huh? Really?”

 

“Yeah. I probably can’t stay too long, but maybe for about thirty minutes.”

 

I should probably check with Hwang Jae-i first. If he came back saying he was too tired and wanted to leave, they wouldn’t be able to stay. But after seeing Jaehyun’s expression brighten immediately at the offer, Dohwa couldn’t take back what he’d said.

 

“So let’s just wait here.”

 

“……”

 

At those words, Jaehyun looked toward his mother. His face still carried traces of uncertainty and anxiety.

 

Although the coastline was avoided as a residential area, ironically, it was favored as a tourist destination. People liked to experience a different mood for at least one night.

 

Thus, massive amusement parks, fancy hotels, and resorts had been built. For that to happen, existing residents had to be relocated, and in most cases, this stage led to considerable violence. That’s because the people who remained had no place to go other than their current homes. A few stayed simply because it was their hometown, but they were a minority.

 

If they could, most would’ve moved to the metropolitan area or somewhere safer. But because they couldn’t, they remained where they were. Either that, or they had ended up there because life had gotten difficult. In any case, it was a place they had built their lives on, and so they tried to protect it—regardless of who tried to drive them out.

 

“Wow, still running the shop even with no customers?”

 

The men approaching held baseball bats and crowbars. Appearing suddenly and swaggering forward while spitting on the ground, they made the elderly frown. The relaxed time spent sorting vegetables had officially ended. The elders set down what they were holding, but despite the thugs’ menacing behavior, they didn’t flinch. In fact, one of them even snapped back.

 

“You little punks, you dare crawl in here? This isn’t a place for the likes of you!”

 

“Whoa there, looks like grandma’s real mad. Don’t be like that. We’re busy people too, you know. We’re only stopping by because we’ve got some business here. Right, boys?”

 

Despite the elder’s anger, the thug’s tone remained cheeky and unaffected. From all directions, others chimed in with similar lines: Yeah, we’ve got business here, and so on. Then the man in front shifted his weight onto one leg.

 

After twirling his baseball bat flamboyantly, he let it drop with a thud in front of him and bent forward slightly.

 

“So, our dear grannies. You still haven’t changed your minds?”

 

“Come scream at us a hundred more times, we’re not leaving! Cut the crap and get lost, you lowlifes!”

 

Unable to contain her rage, one of the elders hurled a handful of discarded vegetable scraps at him. The wet smack of it hitting his face made the man flinch and shut his eyes tightly before opening them again. Seeing the elder now kneeling as if ready to charge him directly, he scoffed.

 

“Must be some good land. That’s why even an old hag on her last legs is still croaking around here.”

 

“You—you bastard…!”

 

“Elder.”

 

Straightening his back, the thug slammed his baseball bat down on the middle of the bench where the elders had been sitting. The blow reverberated through the wood, and the elders’ expressions darkened at the impact. The thug sneered.

 

“Quit resisting and take the money our boss is offering. Once you’re old and can’t even take care of yourselves, you’re just a burden to your kids. Who in today’s world is going to take care of elderly parents? It’s not like anyone comes here anymore, and with all the rumors floating around, the land value’s not going up either.”

 

“Isn’t that your doing?!”

 

“……”

 

“You’re the ones who pushed those poor people to their deaths! They couldn’t even die peacefully because they were so desperate to live! Aren’t you afraid of divine punishment?!”

 

As the elder shouted, her neck veins bulging with fury, the man snorted.

 

“Ah, whatever.”

 

He jerked his chin, signaling that he’d heard enough. Immediately, the other thugs marched forward. They stood in front of the stores and wildly swung their tools. With loud crashes, the glass doors shattered and splintered apart. One of them ran inside a shop and began smashing everything in sight.

 

“Y-you bastards!”

 

One of the elders tried to climb down from the bench but was shoved hard on the shoulder.

 

“……!!”

 

Unable to withstand the force, the old man fell backward. The thug who shoved him looked down coldly and issued a threat.

 

“You should’ve listened the first time. We’re wrapping this up today, so if you don’t want to get hurt, sit tight.”

 

The thug pointed at the men with his baseball bat.

 

“Ten minutes. Let’s wrap this up. We’ve got a lot to break today!”

 

“Yes, boss!!”

 

Responding loudly, the thugs adjusted their grips on their tools and looked up.

 

Through the shattered door, there wasn’t even much to destroy—just empty display shelves. It would’ve been more satisfying to smash something filled. Maybe some glass bottles? Smashing something like that would’ve been more thrilling. As the thug looked around in disappointment, he suddenly froze in surprise.

 

“Shit!”

 

On the right side of the store—where he had thought no one was—stood a strange man. When he realized it was just a nerdy-looking guy in glasses, he scowled and pointed his crowbar.

 

“Who the hell are you? You live here? Then go wait at home. We’re gonna wreck everything today, one place at a time!”

 

Embarrassed about his earlier startle, the thug raised his voice. Other thugs paused mid-destruction and turned around curiously. But Jae-i wasn’t paying them any attention. His gaze was on the elder who had fallen onto the bench.

 

The elder, having spotted Jae-i as well, hurriedly waved his hand, gesturing for him to get away.

 

“Hey! You deaf or something?! I said get the hell out!”

 

“……”

 

“You little shit, ears clogged? I’ll clear ’em for you.”

 

Spitting into his palm, the thug gripped his crowbar with both hands and stepped forward. He swung his arms wide. One of the elders shouted Don’t! just as Jae-i lifted his leg. Whether the man swung the crowbar or not didn’t matter. Despite his expressionless face, Jae-i’s leg moved with speed and precision—slamming straight into the thug’s abdomen.

 

“……!”

 

The thug’s body folded in half from the blow, and he dropped the crowbar with a metallic clang on the concrete. Drops of bright red blood started dripping onto the fallen weapon.

 

“Ugh…” groaned the thug as he slowly lifted his head, following the foot embedded in his stomach. Blood trickled from his nose and mouth, and as Jae-i lowered his leg, the thug collapsed to his knees and then completely crumpled to the ground.

 

Instantly, the expressions on the other thugs’ faces changed, and they charged at Hwang Jae-i.

 

“You son of a bitch! What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”

 

Jae-i dodged the baseball bat swung by the first thug who reached him and lifted his leg again. The movement seemed subtle, but his kick landed squarely on the attacker’s thigh, making him crumple to the ground with a strangled cry. As another thug rushed at him, Jae-i grabbed him by the collar.

 

“Urk!”

 

It all happened so fast—the guy had barely moved before Jae-i had him by the throat and slammed him to the ground.

 

“…Gah!”

 

Without giving them any time to react, Jae-i confirmed the man was down, then raised his head. With a flick of his chin, he beckoned to the last remaining thug.

 

Now realizing Hwang Jae-i wasn’t an ordinary man, the thug’s face darkened. Staggering backward, he suddenly turned and sprinted toward one of the parked cars, pounding on the rear window.

 

“H-Hey! Come out! Come out here and deal with this guy!”

 

“……”

 

Jae-i’s gaze locked onto the three vehicles.

 

The Awakened individuals Dohwa had mentioned earlier were inside one of those cars. He was about to find out just who they were when, from another car, a massive man stepped out.