Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 82

“I’m not going to live like this anymore.”

Hyun-sung said, looking at Lee Man-soo.

“If that’s the case, may I offer another suggestion?”

At Hyun-sung’s words, Lee Man-soo’s face lit up as he responded,

“Oh~! If you could do that for me, I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

“Buy me some jajangmyeon [Korean-Chinese noodle dish with black bean sauce].”

“What, jajangmyeon?”

“It would be nice if you could throw in some sweet and sour pork as well.”

“Jajangmyeon and sweet and sour pork, huh….”

Lee Man-soo mulled over Hyun-sung’s words, seemingly deep in thought.

Swaying, swaying.

Lee Man-soo’s head slowly moved from side to side.

He figured that Hyun-sung wasn’t simply asking for jajangmyeon and sweet and sour pork.

Lee Man-soo looked at Principal Park Sang-hyun.

Park Sang-hyun also slightly shook his head.

Lee Man-soo reluctantly looked at Hyun-sung and asked,

“I don’t think you’re simply asking for jajangmyeon and sweet and sour pork. Is there another reason you can tell me?”

As expected, to become a union leader, one needs a certain level of basic character and intelligence.

He maintained his manners while talking about the reward earlier, and now Lee Man-soo was even discerning the other person’s hidden intentions.

Hyun-sung smiled and replied,

“You caught on. It’s quite a large amount.”

“A large amount?”

“Yes, it’s for all my classmates to eat. Of course, including Soo-hyuk.”

“Haha, hahahaha….”

Lee Man-soo laughed loudly for a while instead of answering. Principal Park Sang-hyun, next to him, simply tilted his head, seemingly not understanding the reason.

After laughing for a while, Lee Man-soo looked at Hyun-sung.

Of course, when Hyun-sung first mentioned jajangmyeon, he had already anticipated that there would be another intention. However, he never thought it would be a get-well party for Lee Soo-hyuk.

The more he thought about it, the more he realized that Hyun-sung was a unique friend.

Lee Man-soo smiled and said,

“The date will be this Saturday, right?”

“Indeed, not just anyone can become a union leader.”

“Haha, this friend is saying all sorts of things. Anyone with a brain could figure that out, even if they weren’t a union leader, don’t you think? Isn’t that right, Principal?”

Lee Man-soo turned his head to the side.

It was then that Lee Man-soo’s expression began to change subtly.

“Oh dear, what should we do….”

Principal Park Sang-hyun was troubled.

Lee Man-soo’s expression began to distort even more.

Then, Principal Park Sang-hyun scratched his balding head and slightly opened his mouth again.

“I guess my head is just for decoration… Union Leader…nim [term of respect].”

Kikik.

Hyun-sung finally burst into laughter.

After some time, Principal Park Sang-hyun also understood the reason, and then the three of them were able to laugh cheerfully once again.

Thus, Lee Soo-hyuk’s get-well party was decided to be held at a Chinese restaurant after school on Saturday.

It was Hyun-sung’s judgment that the classmates would definitely be happy, and there would be nothing bad for Lee Soo-hyuk either.

Hyun-sung, having left the principal’s office, hurried his steps.

It was to go to the store.

As he was changing the kitchen structure, the problem was with the plumbing. The water supply was fine, but the drainage was the issue.

After much deliberation, he decided to break the floor and bury it. If it was exposed, there would be aesthetic issues, and more importantly, it would have to cross the entrance to the inner building, so there was no other choice.

That construction would be finished today.

Hyun-sung was almost at the main gate when it happened.

‘What, these guys….’

They looked like middle school students at first glance, and they were approaching him.

Just as Hyun-sung was about to exit the main gate, one of them, a tall kid, blocked Hyun-sung’s path.

Swoosh.

“Senior, are you busy?”

The feeling was ominous.

It had been more than 30 minutes since school ended. The fact that they were waiting for him at the main gate meant they definitely had a purpose….

Moreover, middle school students.

He couldn’t think of any reason off the top of his head.

For now, he spoke nonchalantly.

“Oh? Yeah, I’m a little… but were you waiting for me?”

“As expected, our senior is quick-witted.”

It was a scene he had seen often in movies.

It meant something was up.

“You guys are from Seo-myung Middle School, right? Maybe 3rd grade?”

“That’s not important right now. We need you to come with us for a bit.”

These kids watch too many movies.

‘Look at these guys.’

Of course, in the past, he would have been scared, even if they were middle school students. Not just one or two, but three of them. And it wasn’t like these three were the only ones.

However, Hyun-sung was not the same as before.

Hyun-sung looked at the kid in front of him and asked,

“Hey, what’s your name?”

Flustered.

Kim Tae-jin felt himself shrinking back without realizing it.

In fact, he had heard many rumors about Kim Hyun-sung these days.

From the story that he had neatly taken care of the bullies in the 2nd grade, classes 1 and 2, to the story that he had caught a gang of pickpockets at Wonju Terminal.

Even if it was all true, he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, so it didn’t feel real.

But seeing him in person today, he seemed to get a sense of it.

Usually, people shrink back in the face of numbers.

But Hyun-sung in front of him didn’t seem to have any of that. Kim Tae-jin himself was feeling intimidated by his confident appearance.

However, backing down in this situation would be ridiculous.

Kim Tae-jin said as if nothing was wrong,

“You can find out my name later, let’s go quickly. Our boss has been waiting since earlier….”

“Boss? Are you talking about Han Myung-soo?”

“Oh? Senior knows our boss?”

Of course, he knew.

The troublemaker of Seo-myung Middle School. There was a time when the school was noisy because of him, saying he was creating some kind of organization.

Hyun-sung looked at Kim Tae-jin and asked,

“Then are you also part of ‘Grass Gang’?”

He had heard that they named it that because they said it would grow stronger the more it was trampled on.

He remembered that he got into a group fight with the Hongcheon Agricultural High School kids shortly before winter vacation and ended up not graduating from middle school.

At the time, it was a big issue, so the memory remained firmly in his mind even after time had passed.

When the words ‘Grass Gang’ came out of Hyun-sung’s mouth, Kim Tae-jin’s eyes widened as if he was surprised.

“You know our Grass Gang?”

“Shut up and tell Myung-soo that this hyung [older brother/male friend] is busy with business today and to see him later.”

Han Myung-soo.

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t concerned.

He couldn’t ignore him just because he was a middle school student. Especially since this guy’s style was to overwhelm with numbers rather than fighting alone.

That meant that even now, there were probably more than just one or two guys waiting for Hyun-sung. If not ten, then more than that was definitely possible.

He had only just opened his eyes to dynamic visual acuity, enough to block incoming attacks. And that was only in 1:1 situations so far.

If they ganged up on him, there was no answer.

Getting caught up in a fight like this when he wasn’t even a kid was foolish. So, the method he chose was to avoid it for now.

Cowardly?

That’s ridiculous. There was no way he could regress and get picked on by middle schoolers.

It was right to avoid it if he could.

But he soon realized that was just his wishful thinking.

Kim Tae-jin gestured to the two guys behind him, and the guys behind him were already surrounding Hyun-sung.

Kim Tae-jin said, looking at Hyun-sung,

“Let’s just go quietly.”

“Go?”

It was an atmosphere where it wouldn’t be awkward at all if swear words came out in a little while.

It was the moment Hyun-sung’s expression changed.

“These bastards….”

Before Hyun-sung could finish his words.

Swoosh.

The guys behind him reached out their hands at the same time to subdue Hyun-sung.

‘Where do you think you’re going!’

Thud.

Pow!

Hyun-sung’s hands were fast.

He knocked away the hand of the guy coming from the right and, at the same time, mercilessly punched the other guy’s side with his left hand.

It was instantaneous.

“Ugh!”

Looking at the guy who collapsed without being able to breathe properly, Hyun-sung’s roar erupted.

“What do you think you’re doing, you little shits, looking down on your senior like that….”

However, Hyun-sung had no choice but to cut off his words in the middle.

Because a name that shouldn’t have come out came out of Kim Tae-jin’s mouth.

“Kim Ji-yeon!”

“What did you just say?”

“The boss told me to tell you this. If you don’t come, Kim Ji-yeon’s remaining school life will be quite interesting.”

“Han Myung-soo definitely said that?”

“Yes.”

Kim Tae-jin nodded.

These guys had already anticipated the possibility that Hyun-sung wouldn’t come willingly and had laid out all the groundwork in advance.

They were showing more meticulousness than he thought.

Moreover, they were guys who accurately grasped the other person’s weaknesses.

Tsk, tsk.

Hyun-sung gestured with his fingers, looking at Kim Tae-jin.

Then Kim Tae-jin asked, slightly frightened,

“Why are you doing that?”

“Come here for a second.”

“Why….”

Whoosh.

Before Kim Tae-jin could finish his words, Hyun-sung’s hand was fast.

Slap!

Hyun-sung slapped Kim Tae-jin across the face.

“Listen carefully, you little shit. If you ever utter my sister’s name with that mouth again, then know that you won’t even be able to eat rice with that mouth anymore.”

“Ah, shit….”

Pow!

This time, Hyun-sung lifted his right foot and stomped on Kim Tae-jin’s chest.

“Ugh…!”

Kim Tae-jin clutched his chest and glared at Hyun-sung.

Then Hyun-sung wasn’t going to stay still.

Whoosh!

This time, his left foot drew an arc and struck Kim Tae-jin’s right neck.

“Ugh!”

Then Kim Tae-jin couldn’t even scream properly and collapsed on the spot.

In an instant, two people were rolling on the floor.

Slowly, slowly.

The guy on the left, watching the scene, began to distance himself from Hyun-sung and step back.

Swoosh.

Hyun-sung’s head naturally turned to the left.

Suddenly.

Then the guy who was stepping back stopped moving on the spot.

Tsk.

Hyun-sung folded and unfolded his finger once.

The guy’s eyes, expressing his intentions with his whole body instead of words, were like those of a frightened cat.

Then Hyun-sung’s words followed.

“Han Myung-soo! Where is he?”

“……A, at the vacant lot.”

Thud.

Hyun-sung’s steps headed towards the vacant lot without hesitation.

At this time, there was someone who had been watching this scene from a distance from the school gate.

Even from afar, his bulk was considerable.

He slowly began to move in the direction Hyun-sung was heading.

Hyun-sung arrived at the vacant lot.

“Huh!”

Hyun-sung could only let out a hollow laugh.

“One, two… how many are there?”

Even roughly counting, there seemed to be well over twenty people.

It wasn’t the legendary 17:1, but it looked like it was going to be well over 20:1. It seemed like Hyun-sung would be rewriting the legend starting today.

Of course, that was assuming he won.

But Hyun-sung knew too well that reality was harsh.

This wasn’t it.

It was a perfect situation to become crippled if he wasn’t careful.

Shaking his head.

Hyun-sung’s head began to move from side to side.

He had expected at most six or seven people to be waiting.

Of course, that number wasn’t easy either, but that was the best number Hyun-sung could hope for right now.

He hadn’t thought that Han Myung-soo would be waiting alone anyway.

Even so, he didn’t expect it to be this many.

No matter how much his usual style was to win with numbers, this was an act that transcended imagination.

But the problem was that this was the reality Hyun-sung was facing.

Then, Han Myung-soo bowed his head, looking at Hyun-sung.

“Welcome, Senior!”

At Han Myung-soo’s hypocritical appearance, Hyun-sung felt a lump of fire rising up his throat.

But Hyun-sung knew too well that the moment he lost his reason here, everything would be over.

Was that why?

He even felt a moist sensation in both hands.

His body already knew that this situation was serious.

Hyun-sung looked at Han Myung-soo.

He was grinning.

That meant he was confident. He seemed to be enjoying this situation.

Then, Hyun-sung opened his mouth.

“Han Myung-soo, let me ask you just one thing.”

“……?”

“Let’s at least know the reason for this.”

He had been curious from the beginning. No matter how much he thought about it, there was no reason for him to be involved with this guy.

“Ah… the reason?”

“Yeah, no matter how much I think about it, I can’t find a point of intersection between you and me.”

There were exactly 24 people.

Hyun-sung counted the numbers while talking. He knew too well that it wouldn’t end quietly like this anyway.

Then Han Myung-soo’s mouth opened again and closed.

“Seo In-hye!”

Hyun-sung momentarily doubted his ears.

“Who……?”

“Seo In-hye. You met her during lunchtime today, right?”

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t that they met, but Seo In-hye had come to the classroom as soon as it was lunchtime. The reason was that Hyun-sung had told her not to wait at the main gate, so she had come to the classroom.

The purpose was to give him the rolled omelet.

Of course, the classroom was in an uproar.

Rolled omelet?

Hyun-sung hadn’t even tasted it.

Only then did Hyun-sung think he knew why Han Myung-soo had started this.

Hyun-sung smiled and said,

“You’re doing this because of Seo In-hye?”

“Don’t call her name so carelessly!”

Han Myung-soo was finally revealing his true colors.

Hyun-sung scanned the surroundings again.

About 10 people were just filling the numbers. So, adding 14 people to Han Myung-soo, the calculation came out to about 15 people.

15:1, huh….

No matter how much he thought about it, it was an overwhelming number.

But there was no special method either. It was a perfect situation to get beaten to a pulp.

And even if he said here that he had no feelings for Seo In-hye, he didn’t think the result would change.

The die had already been cast.

Then, Han Myung-soo said,

“Don’t ever meet Seo In-hye again. If you promise that here, I’ll let you go nicely.”

Of course, he didn’t have any feelings for Seo In-hye, but he couldn’t hand over her pure heart wholesale like this.

At least he didn’t want to disgrace that heart.

The moment all eyes were on Hyun-sung, Hyun-sung broke the silence and opened his mouth.

“What if I refuse?”

“There will be no more mercy.”

“Mercy? This bastard is doing all sorts of things.”

As soon as Hyun-sung finished speaking, Han Myung-soo began to glare at Hyun-sung.

After a moment of doing so.

Swoosh.

Han Myung-soo turned his head and nodded once, and the guys who were gathered began to surround Hyun-sung.

It was then.

Someone was approaching the vacant lot.

Hyun-sung’s gaze naturally turned to the entrance of the vacant lot.

And… his mouth opened like a goldfish.

“What is that?”

It was the moment Hyun-sung’s expression changed subtly.