Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 23

“Ugh!”

The guy in the purple tracksuit already had a switchblade in his hand.

*Swish.*

With a flick of his wrist, a 15cm blade sprang out.

*Shick, shick.*

His movements were surprisingly sharp, like something out of a movie. I never thought I’d actually see something like this…

I hate this kind of thing.

But what can I do? I have to survive, so I have to stay sharp.

Hyun-sung focused his eyes.

The purple tracksuit guy took a stance, but it looked awkward.

“Heh.”

Hyun-sung laughed deliberately, trying to get his attention, no matter what.

The purple tracksuit guy’s expression twisted.

“You’re laughing in this situation?”

“You’re a newbie, aren’t you?”

“What? You crazy bastard trying to die?”

The purple tracksuit guy said that, but Hyun-sung’s words stung. They were true.

He’d dropped out of school and somehow ended up doing this, but he had never actually used a knife before. He was just supposed to steal wallets.

That’s why he was careful in choosing his targets. It would be troublesome if they chased after him.

Today was the same.

After waiting for a long four hours, he’d chosen his target: alone, a woman, and wearing high heels. Perfect conditions.

But suddenly, someone started chasing after him, and at a scary speed.

Anyway, the deed was done, and he had to finish it.

The purple tracksuit guy took his stance again, this time paying more attention.

Hyun-sung felt relieved.

If he were a real pro, things would have already gone south. Now, he just had to hold on a little longer, no matter what.

‘How do I stall for time?’

Their goal is money anyway. Then there’s only one way.

Hyun-sung organized his thoughts and opened his mouth.

“Hey, I’ll give you 100,000 won [approximately $75 USD].”

He started strong, figuring that was the only way it would work. Of course, he had no intention of actually paying. His only goal was to buy time.

As expected, money talks.

The other guy’s eyes wavered.

Hyun-sung didn’t miss the opportunity and immediately pressed his advantage.

“I’ll give you 100,000 won, so give our teacher her wallet back and let’s end this quietly. How about it?”

“Oh! Look at this bastard, trying to play games. Who do you think you’re fooling?”

“Why? You don’t think I have it?”

*Thump, thump.*

Hyun-sung confidently patted his backpack.

The purple tracksuit guy said, “Is that real?”

It worked.

He’s simple-minded. The thought that I could finish this smoothly washed over me like a tsunami.

Hyun-sung spoke again, his voice more relaxed than before.

“So, put that knife away first. Neither you nor I want to ruin our lives over this, right?”

“Check the money first.”

“No, put the knife away first.”

“Money first!”

“Knife first!”

He’s already lost his will to fight. I could tell right away that he was bluffing, no matter how tough he tried to act. In this kind of situation, the years I’ve lived were an advantage.

*Swoosh.*

The purple tracksuit guy, perhaps out of pride, loosened his awkward stance, but he still held the knife in his right hand.

Hyun-sung said again.

“You don’t want 100,000 won?”

“A, alright. Keep your promise.”

You idiot. A promise. Since when…

I almost laughed. But as the saying goes, the finish is the most important thing, so Hyun-sung didn’t let his guard down.

Hyun-sung opened the zipper of his bag.

*Zzzip.*

*Thump, thump.*

At that moment, a small sound was heard in the distance. At least two people were running—no, three people. Probably, Teacher Choi Mi-yeon was running behind them.

It was the moment a smile spread across Hyun-sung’s face.

*Zzzip.*

Hyun-sung closed the zipper again.

The three people watched that scene: Purple, yellow, and even the blue tracksuit guy who spat at Hyun-sung.

The expressions on their faces began to twist in an instant.

Then the purple tracksuit guy looked at Hyun-sung and asked resentfully.

“Why?”

“……”

“Hey! Are you not listening to me?”

The purple tracksuit guy was going crazy. He was one step away from having 100,000 won in his hands.

If that happened, he could take a break from this job for a while. The atmosphere around the terminal wasn’t good these days anyway, so he was going to lay low after today.

He had been working for a few months, and it seemed like rumors had spread.

But suddenly, Hyun-sung closed the zipper as if nothing had happened, making his eyes pop out.

On the other hand, Hyun-sung was the opposite.

*Smirk.*

A smile spread across Hyun-sung’s face.

“Can’t you hear that sound?”

“Wh, what sound?”

The purple tracksuit guy seemed to hear something too.

He realized it in an instant.

“What? Was it a show?”

The purple tracksuit guy realized that Hyun-sung’s actions were all to buy time.

Then the purple tracksuit guy’s face turned cold in an instant.

“You son of a bitch! You were playing with me?”

With those words, the purple tracksuit guy rushed towards Hyun-sung, knife in hand.

The moment he saw the purple tracksuit guy rushing towards him, Hyun-sung snapped to his senses.

“I’m screwed!”

He realized that he had let his guard down too early at the last moment, but it was already too late.

*Shwaa.*

The purple tracksuit guy’s knife rushed towards Hyun-sung’s right side.

“Ugh!”

Hyun-sung couldn’t avoid the unexpected attack. It was only natural. He wouldn’t be able to block it even if he knew it was coming, let alone in a defenseless state.

At that moment.

*Zing!*

A shiver ran down his spine.

And then Hyun-sung’s gaze landed on one spot: the tip of the other guy’s knife.

“Huh?”

He saw it.

At that desperate moment, the tip of the knife came into view. And strangely, he felt like he could block it.

*Thwack.*

Twisting his shoulder, he lightly struck the other guy’s wrist with his right hand.

*Clang.*

A cheerful sound was heard as the knife fell to the floor.

This time, Hyun-sung swung his fist towards the chin of the purple tracksuit guy, who had lost his balance, with his left hand.

*Crack.*

The sound of a jaw breaking and a short scream echoed through the dead-end alley.

“Agh!”

Then the eyes of the two guys watching the scene widened—the blue and yellow tracksuit guys.

But the one who was more surprised was Hyun-sung.

‘Could it be… am I also a *nyeokja* [a person with supernatural abilities]?’

Hyun-sung suddenly thought of something he had seen in a fantasy.

That’s when it happened.

*Beep! Beep!*

Along with the sound of a whistle, two police officers were running into the alley. Of course, Teacher Choi Mi-yeon was running behind them.

The situation was resolved in an instant.

Because they were newbies, they couldn’t even think of running away when they saw the police and froze on the spot.

While the police were questioning the three guys, Teacher Choi Mi-yeon looked at Hyun-sung and asked urgently.

“Hyun-sung, are you okay?”

“Why were you so late?”

“Well, you see……”

She said she reported it right away, but she didn’t know where they were, so she searched every alley. And the last place she arrived was here.

Perhaps that’s why Teacher Choi Mi-yeon’s face was covered in sweat.

Then one of the police officers handed Teacher Choi Mi-yeon her wallet and said.

“Is this yours? Check the contents inside, and if anything is missing, please let us know.”

“Yes, thank you.”

As soon as Teacher Choi Mi-yeon opened her wallet, she checked something and sighed in relief, then held the wallet to her chest.

The police officer then looked at Hyun-sung and asked.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“That’s a relief. We’ve been having a headache lately, so thank you.”

“Are they repeat offenders?”

They seemed like newbies from their actions, but Hyun-sung wondered if they were more meticulous than he thought, considering how thoroughly they had planned the job.

“We’ll find out the details when we investigate. We’ve been having a headache because of pickpockets around the terminal lately.”

“Ah, is that so? You’re doing a great job.”

“Ah, and I’d like to ask for your cooperation on a few things. Your name here and……”

The police officer asked Hyun-sung a few questions, wrote down some simple personal information, and then tried to leave the alley with the three guys.

Hyun-sung then blocked the police officer’s path and said.

“Just a moment.”

“Do you have something to say?”

“To the guy in the blue tracksuit here.”

“Ah, is that so?”

The police officer stood the blue tracksuit guy, who was in handcuffs, in front of Hyun-sung.

Then the blue tracksuit guy glared at Hyun-sung and said.

“You sly bastard! I’ll see you later.”

“……”

Hyun-sung didn’t feel the need to answer because it was a meaningless statement anyway.

Instead, a strange sound came from Hyun-sung’s mouth.

*Cough.*

“That’s how you spit, you *saekya* [a Korean profanity similar to ‘bastard’]!”

The blue tracksuit guy’s eyes looked like they were about to pop out. Whether he did or not, Hyun-sung turned his head and walked towards Teacher Choi Mi-yeon.

***

Hyun-sung was still feeling uncomfortable because of the blue tracksuit guy’s saliva on his head, but he took comfort in seeing the blue tracksuit guy disappear with a constipated face.

Hyun-sung entered the terminal waiting room and checked the bus schedule first. Fortunately, there was about 30 minutes left until the last bus departed.

He bought two bottles of cider from the kiosk.

Since he regressed, he got to drink bottled cider, and this taste was also fun. It was like experiencing a memory of food.

Hyun-sung put a straw in the cider and handed it to Teacher Choi Mi-yeon, saying.

“How have you been, Teacher Choi Mi-yeon?”

“Oh? I should be buying you this……, but why are you talking like the principal? What’s with that tone?”

“Haha, is that so? Anyway, it’s nice to see you.”

“Yes, it’s nice to see you too. And thank you so much.”

Teacher Choi Mi-yeon held up her wallet and thanked him.

Then Hyun-sung immediately asked.

“Did you have a lot of money in your wallet?”

“Money? Oh, I thought you were talking about something else. It’s not because of the money, it’s because of the picture……”

“Picture?”

Hyun-sung was a little surprised at the word picture. He simply thought that there was a lot of money in the wallet.

Then, after thinking for a moment, Teacher Choi Mi-yeon moved her lips and barely opened her mouth.

“It’s a picture of my dad. He passed away last winter.”

“Ah! I see. Your father was very handsome, wasn’t he?”

“Huh? How do you know that?”

“How would I not know? Your face is so pretty, I can tell just by looking at you, right?”

Hyun-sung was telling the truth, but he also saw a slight flicker in Teacher Choi Mi-yeon’s eyes when she was talking earlier.

She said last winter. That means Teacher Choi Mi-yeon’s father passed away less than a year ago.

Teacher Choi Mi-yeon’s age is probably in her early 30s, even if I don’t know exactly.

She must miss him a lot.

I know it now that I’ve experienced it.

How difficult it is to accept and acknowledge the situation where you can’t get an answer even if you call out, and you can’t see them even if you want to.

People usually try to forget it at first, but they later realize that it’s useless.

That’s because forgetting on purpose doesn’t mean it will be forgotten.

It’s better to be sad, hurt, and cry out as much as you want when you think of them, and then the intensity will gradually weaken from some point on.