You Have Been Defended [EN]: Chapter 492

After meeting Park Young-gi, my heart felt lighter in many ways, yet also contradictorily heavier.

I felt a sense of relief that things would go as planned if I prepared well, but also worried about whether I could meet the prerequisite of ‘if I just prepare well.’

I know it’s unnecessary worry.

Vague worries that aren’t aimed at establishing proper countermeasures only breed anxiety, and that anxiety tends to ruin things.

“You slept in a bit late today.”

I couldn’t fall asleep until dawn yesterday, so I woke up late this morning.

I went to the hospital a while ago and said I was experiencing excessive sleepiness and wanted to reduce the dosage, so they changed my medication. But this time, I couldn’t fall asleep for some reason and only managed to doze off after sunrise.

Considering that, I didn’t sleep for long.

Maybe about five hours.

“Yeah, I guess so. But what’s that?”

Tae-shik was sitting on the sofa watching television, and there was a paper bag next to him.

As I approached and asked, Tae-shik took something out of it and handed it to me.

“It’s a vest that’s bulletproof and stab-proof. They say it’s a higher grade than what the police use. It costs over a million won [approximately $750 USD]. Crazy expensive, right?”

It felt quite heavy when I held it.

I’d guess it weighs about 3kg [approximately 6.6 pounds].

“I don’t think anyone would use a gun, but you never know. There are higher grades, but they have bulletproof plates in them, so they’re really heavy. You have to wear it every day, so I thought it might be too much for you.”

When I first received the wiretapped recording of Onodera saying he would die in my place, other people mentioned that I should wear a bulletproof and stab-proof vest, but I didn’t think they would actually buy one.

It’s something that even police officers only wear when they’re in special forces or in special situations, but now I have to wear it every day.

Seeing it in person made me chuckle wryly.

“Try it on. You can adjust the waist and shoulders on the side. We need to see if it’s a weight you can handle in your daily life. For me, this weight is like not wearing anything, but it might be heavy for someone as scrawny as you. If you can’t handle it, I’ll have to exchange it for something lighter.”

“It’s not like I can’t handle 3kg. And how many times do I have to say it? I’m not scrawny, you’re just excessively big.”

I sighed and put on the vest.

Tae-shik came over and adjusted the waist and shoulder areas to fit my body.

“Hmm, this seems okay. How is it? Does it feel too tight?”

“It feels a bit tight, I guess.”

I can loosen it if it’s too tight, but it’s heavier than I thought.

It’s not unbearable, but the feeling of my shoulders being pressed down makes me feel like I’m getting shorter.

“How about now?”

“It’s fine.”

But I didn’t want to tell Tae-shik, who keeps thinking of me as a weakling, that it felt a bit heavy.

I can probably get used to wearing it.

“Always wear it. Even when you sleep.”

“Even when I sleep?”

“You never know. What if they break into the house like last time? Sang-gil will be here, but what if an even more amazing ninja appears, slices Sang-gil, and runs to your room?”

“…That can’t happen to Sang-gil. And we replaced the front door and security system.”

“Yeah, but there’s always a chance. I’ll make Sang-gil wear this too, so he won’t get hurt.”

It’s good to be careful, but the thought of wearing this heavy thing even when I sleep already makes my whole body feel stiff.

“Okay.”

But I didn’t want to die either, so I nodded obediently.

“Oh, and I bought a stun gun too. I thought it would be good for you to carry it around with you.”

“I’d have to carry a bag to carry this around. Don’t they have smaller ones?”

There were much smaller stun guns in 2018, but I guess they didn’t have them at this time.

As I examined the stun gun, Tae-shik shrugged.

“You can just carry a bag.”

“Then, in the moment of crisis, I’d have to rummage through the bag to take out the stun gun. Wouldn’t I be subdued in the meantime?”

“That’s why you have the vest. Let’s say a ninja comes and stabs you in the gut.”

Tae-shik started demonstrating, pretending to stab me in the stomach.

“But wait? The knife won’t go in, right? Because you’re wearing the vest. Then, while the ninja is flustered, you kick him in the balls. Pretend to kick him.”

As I pretended to raise my knee between Tae-shik’s legs, Tae-shik quickly covered the area with both hands, as if he really thought I was going to kick him.

I was a little disappointed that Tae-shik’s faith in me was only this much.

“Ah, you were really going to kick me, weren’t you?”

“Why would I really kick you?”

“The angle of your knee was unusual. I haven’t even started a family yet. Please be careful. Anyway, let’s say the ninja’s balls are crushed. Then…”

Tae-shik lay down on the floor and started rolling around, clutching the area with both hands.

“Then the ninja will be rolling on the floor like this, shouting ‘Ah, baka yaro! [Ah, you idiot!]’ Just like now.”

I stared silently at Tae-shik, who continued to roll from side to side.

Tae-shik sighed as if frustrated and gestured towards the stun gun in my hand.

Do I have to do a simulation here?

“Okay, while he’s rolling around like this, you take out the stun gun from the bag really quickly. Let’s say you’ve taken it out now. Then, you look at the nape of the ninja’s neck, who’s crying at the thought of never being able to have children again.”

I turned on the stun gun.

Is this how you turn it on and zap them?

“No, why are you turning it on! Are you going to zap me?”

“I was just wondering if it works.”

“It works! I already tested it.”

“…On whom?”

“I haven’t tested it on a living thing, but I’ve checked the voltage. Anyway, you just zap him really quickly. Then he’ll faint, right?”

Tae-shik lay sprawled on the floor.

“Then you run away really quickly. Hide somewhere.”

“You and Sang-gil will always be here anyway, so will this situation even come up?”

“Of course not. Even if 100 ninjas come, we can handle 1 vs 100, so you just have to run away really quickly while we’re dealing with the 100. But what if you become like one of those frustrating characters in movies who hesitate because they’re worried about us and end up in danger?”

Tae-shik jumped up and dusted off his hands.

“We have to prepare for any possibility.”

“But did you get a permit? A stun gun distributed without a permit won’t be able to knock anyone out.”

“Me? I already got it when I bought the taser. I bought it under my name, so it was fine then, but you’re the one who’s going to use it, so you need to get a permit.”

“I guess so. What do I need?”

“Ah, I already applied, so the police station will contact you soon.”

Tae-shik answered shamelessly.

You need at least an ID to get a permit, so how could Tae-shik apply on my behalf?

“When did you apply?”

“They said I could just send a photo and your driver’s license, so I took them out of your wallet while you were sleeping.”

“When exactly?”

“When you were sleeping.”

“You could have just asked me.”

“Then I would have had to wake you up.”

“If you didn’t want to do that, you could have asked me the next day.”

“I was going to, but I thought I might forget to ask. Anyway, go get the permit when the police station calls.”

I should keep my wallet somewhere else from now on.

It’s not like there’s anything important in my wallet, and it’s not like Tae-shik would steal my money, but it’s infuriating to think that Tae-shik felt a strange pleasure taking my driver’s license out of my wallet.

“Don’t touch my wallet.”

“Geez, did I do it for my own benefit?”

“Still, don’t touch it. And if you take something out, tell me.”

“I’m telling you now.”

“Do you really want to get fired?”

“Funny. How can you fire me?”

How did this guy know?

I want to say it’s unfounded confidence, but there’s a basis for it, so I have nothing to say.

I put down the stun gun and checked the time.

“Okay, I’m hungry, so let’s eat some…”

I hadn’t even finished speaking.

Suddenly, the intercom started ringing.

Tae-shik ran to the intercom and turned to me, asking.

“It’s Attorney Kang?”

“Attorney Kang? I wasn’t expecting him.”

“Since it’s Attorney Kang, I’ll just open the door.”

Tae-shik pressed the button, and soon after, the doorbell rang.

While I was looking at Tae-shik, the vest, and the stun gun, I wondered if Kang Min-jae had contacted me, so I checked my phone, and there was a message.

[I can’t stand it because I’m anxious ㅡㅡ]

What’s making him so anxious?

With a face full of questions, I followed Tae-shik, who was going to open the door.

Through the opened front door, I saw Kang Min-jae carrying a large suitcase and Jung-hyuk standing behind him, looking hesitant.

“What’s this?”

What’s with the suitcase, and what’s with Jung-hyuk’s worried expression?

Instead of answering, Kang Min-jae brought the large suitcase into my house and took off his sneakers.

“Jung-hyuk, what are you doing? Come in.”

I didn’t even tell him to come in, but Kang Min-jae gestured to Jung-hyuk as he pleased.

“I think the attorney might not like it…”

Jung-hyuk trailed off, looking at me.

It seems like he’s about to do something I’d really dislike, and seeing that big suitcase, I think I know what it is.

But I hope this thought that crossed my mind is wrong.

“What is it?”

As I asked, looking at Kang Min-jae, who was shamelessly pushing the suitcase and walking towards the living room, Kang Min-jae answered coolly.

“I’m going to live here from today.”

Has Kang Min-jae finally gone crazy?

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“I don’t think it’s safe for you, attorney. Ninjas are coming, so we have to respond with a Kagemusha [shadow warrior; a decoy].”

“Kagemusha?”

“Don’t you know? A decoy. A bullet shield decoy.”

I know what a Kagemusha is.

In the past, Japanese lords who were threatened with their lives used people who resembled them as decoys to ensure their safety.

But Kang Min-jae doesn’t meet the conditions of my Kagemusha.

“How can Attorney Kang be my Kagemusha? We don’t even look alike in the first place.”

“Does a Kagemusha have to look exactly alike? In the past, Silla’s Kim Chunchu [a historical figure from ancient Korea] survived by swapping clothes with his subordinate.”

“…That’s true, but it’s not right for Attorney Kang to die in my place.”

“Then who dies instead!”

Kang Min-jae shouted, and at that moment, everyone’s gaze quietly turned to Tae-shik.

It wasn’t a conscious action.

It really happened without me realizing it.

“No, I’m still a decent build, so if you turn off the lights, you might mistake me for the attorney, but Tae-shik is too big, so you’d know it wasn’t the attorney just by looking at his silhouette.”

“Ha. I’m not planning on letting anyone die in my place. That goes for Tae-shik even if his build was similar to mine.”

“Then why did you look at me just now!”

Tae-shik shouted as if he felt a great sense of betrayal.

I have nothing to say about this.

I feel sorry.

“Anyway, it’s better for me to die than for you to die in order to achieve our goal, so please understand that I’ll be sleeping in your room from today. You sleep in the guest room.”

“What nonsense are you talking about? That’s enough, go home. And even if we’re in danger, it’s better for one of us to live than for us to die together in the same space.”

“Then who will be the Kagemusha! Sang-gil can’t do it! Sang-gil is someone’s precious son too!”

“You’re someone’s precious son too.”

I reminded Kang Min-jae of what he had forgotten.

Kang Min-jae nodded as if he had lost his words.

“That’s true… Anyway, I’m also learning jiu-jitsu. If someone appears, I can react faster, and anyway… It’s better in many ways, so let’s do that. Okay? Then I’ll use the attorney’s room.”

It seems like Kang Min-jae never intended to persuade me logically from the beginning.

He finished speaking and pushed the suitcase into my room.

And he was about to sit on my bed after putting the suitcase on one side.

“Wait.”

“Ah, why!”

“Change your clothes before you sit down.”

I can’t allow you to sit on my bed in your outdoor clothes, even if the sky falls apart.