Bamboo Forest Manager

No matter how strange the situation was, or how suspicious it seemed, they couldn’t treat me recklessly.

The son of a conglomerate chairman.

That one title was protecting me right now.

Thanks to it, I didn’t face any rough treatment.

While escaping at dawn, I ended up acting with the internet broadcasters, having my phone taken away.

They told me to enjoy my time, but anyone could see it was confinement.

Nothing more, nothing less.

‘I never thought it would come to this.’

I never imagined the escape plan would be discovered at this time.

Though I was flustered, it was somewhat fortunate that I was with the broadcasters.

“What do we do now?”

“Oppa, we’re in big trouble, right?”

“Ah, I feel like crying.”

The internet broadcasters were anxious that even I, who had secretly been on their side, was caught with them.

“It’s okay.”

Popo, who can be said to be the center of them, gathers everyone and consoles them.

“It’ll be okay. Everyone knows we’re trapped here.”

Popo comforts them as they sit in a circle.

Thanks to that, the others are a bit relieved, but I, who received excessive expectations, felt embarrassed.

‘It’s ambiguous.’

The room we’re trapped in is Room 10, which I often used.

The floor is the sixth floor, making it impossible to escape through a window, and there are no windows here in the first place.

But just staying still like this is dangerous anyway.

It’s best to act before the overnight escape plan is complete.

There is an organization member watching us from outside the door, so we need to deal with that somehow…

“How about causing a commotion inside, and when they come in, we overpower them?”

When I suggested this, everyone seemed not very pleased.

“Can we overpower them?”

“Are you…good at fighting?”

All of them are questioning me with the same doubt.

“…I meant we should fight together.”

I suggested it thinking we might have a chance if it’s 6:1.

But everyone is too scared to even think about fighting.

However.

“Let’s do it.”

Popo agrees with my opinion, clenching her fist tightly.

“If that’s the only option, it’s right to do it. Right?”

“…Yeah, we just need to get out and alert the situation. I have people I know waiting.”

I had already made a call asking for help before meeting Popo earlier.

Since I can’t recklessly use police resources, I reached out to people I know.

“Moreover, even if we just wait to be rescued, we remain the same. We have to overcome this.”

Six to one.

Other gangsters were busy erasing traces inside the building or bringing in vehicles for the night escape.

Now was the right time.

That’s why we decided to push through.

---

The thug was monitoring the broadcasters with his back to Room 10.

Since he had some experience, he left the busy work to the younger ones and was assigned the most comfortable spot.

“Hmm.”

The phone he was fiddling with belonged to Kim Woojin, the investor.

He had confiscated it earlier and was now keeping it, but the continuous messages coming in made him uneasy.

Vrr! Vrr! Vrr!

Especially with someone named Seo Yerin constantly sending photos, he wanted to see what it was.

But with the phone being locked, all he could do was anxiously watch it vibrate.

“Sigh, those with money are always worse.”

Being the chairman’s youngest son, he probably flirts with all sorts of women.

Seo Yerin, Choi Yiseo, Min Ju-hee, Jeong Chan-woo.

Most of the incoming messages had women’s names, giving a rough idea of how he lived.

“A guy like that just buys off girls with money, tsk.”

Women should all know the truth about guys like him. Even though he himself was a bad guy, he thought the one inside was even worse.

“Ahhhh!”

A scream was heard.

“You, you bastard! You! You! To us!”

“Bad guy! Baaaad guuuuy!”

Years into the life of a gangster.

Familiar sounds of blows and a man’s screams.

And even the broadcasters’ emotional shouts mixed in.

Startled, the gangster quickly turns to check beyond the glass window on the door.

Kim Woojin was there, surrounded by female broadcasters, lying on the floor and being beaten.

“Forcing! Huh?! Forcing!”

“Because of youuu! It hurttt!”

When you think about it, it was like locking up kids who were half-forced to sell their bodies and those who paid for them in one room.

“Ah, damn it!”

Even if there was a possibility of betrayal, he was still an investor and the son of a conglomerate chairman.

If he got seriously injured or lost his life, the situation could really escalate.

A thug opens the door and pushes the broadcasters inside.

“You crazy bitches, what the hell are you doing!”

“Kyaaa!”

“Ha, please don’t!”

The broadcasters, terrified, are pushed back immediately.

As the thug, panting, tries to check on Kim Woojin’s condition.

Wham!

Kim Woojin, who was lying down, drives his knee up into the thug’s groin.

“Uh, ugh?!”

The sudden pain left the thug speechless as his body lurched forward. The broadcasters took the opportunity to relentlessly start beating the thug.

---

“All done.”

I retrieved my phone and made calls here and there, letting out a sigh of relief.

It’s all set now.

The police will come, and I’ve finished talking with my older brother.

They should arrive soon.

“Wh-what are we going to do now? Are we going out?”

It was a bit risky to go out immediately, but with the thug who was guarding gone, it was awkward to stay here.

I chose to go outside.

“I’ve already made contact. My friends who were on standby will be waiting in front.”

Once we join them, it’s over.

Since we’re on the 6th floor, we have to get down to the 1st floor, but we’ll manage somehow.

“I’ll lead the way, so Popo, make sure to bring everyone safely from the back, got it?”

“Yes, I understand.”

With those words, I stepped out of the room and ran toward the stairs.

Going down from the 6th floor to the 5th was simple.

Since we were already moving things downstairs, the 6th floor was already cleared, so there was no one around.

The problem was going down from the 5th floor to the 4th.

“Hmm?”

I locked eyes with a thug smoking by the stairwell emergency exit, perhaps during a break.

“These, these bastards are escaping!”

I immediately charged at the thug.

“Go straight down! The guys will be coming up from below! Just keep going down!”

I threw myself and tackled him, pinning him to the wall while hanging onto his waist.

I thought I executed it quite stylishly, but the opponent was someone whose livelihood was street fighting.

“Crazy bastard!”

He lifted me, who was clinging to him, and slammed me onto the floor.

“Ugh!”

I’m surprised by my own weakness, despite having done home workouts, yet I feel relieved seeing the broadcasters running away just as I told them.

“Ugh! It hurts like hell!

“Ugh! I can’t even hit back!

“Th-thank you, Parents.”

Thank you for being wealthy, Parents. Thanks to you, I only got hit once instead of twice by the thug.

I grab and cling to the thug’s pant leg, who was trying to chase the broadcasters.

Even though the thugs rushing out from the hallway have us tumbling in front of the stairs, blocking the path.

Eventually.

“Ah, just hit him!”

Just as one must become independent from parents when grown.

Now, as I try to leave my parents’ shadow, just as the thug bro’s fists are about to greet me.

“Hey, you guys.”

A man coming up the stairs.

A build that doesn’t lose to the thugs.

Taekwondo learned since childhood.

A young gangster who picked fights with third-year students since his second year of high school.

It was Pyo Jinho.

“Ah, ah! Jinho hyung!”

Had there ever been a time when Pyo Jinho was so welcome?

He grinned widely and pointed behind him, then shouted.

“Go.”

“That’s so cool, damn it.”

I quickly leave Pyo Jinho and run downstairs.

Passing by our friends as I go.

“You’ll have to pay dearly for this.”

Ahn Hyeon-ho, a notorious delinquent since high school.

“I’m enlisting in the army tomorrow. If this makes the news, do you think I could get some kind of reward leave?”

Kang Han-kang, who is enlisting with Pyo Jinho tomorrow.

“Woohjin, don’t worry and take care of the ladies downstairs first. I’ve called everyone I could.”

Jeong Chan-woo, following along with some kind of confidence.

“Our Chan-woo needs to be protected by his hyung.”

And the bald man.

Huh?

“Bald uncle?”

Worried that Chan-woo might get into trouble, it seems he came along.

Anyway.

“Ah, you idiots are so damn cool!”

I shouted my thanks to our idiots, praising myself for having them as a minimal safety measure.

As I stepped out of the building, the kids were already gathered, trembling.

Seeing me come out, they all hugged me together, relieved.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

It felt like only about 30 seconds since I came out.

President Hwang followed behind me, cracking his shoulders.

“…Our kids?”

“Did I look easy enough to get beaten by college kids?”

Oh dear.

How can something cool not last even 30 seconds?

Watching the gangsters coming down in droves, I hoped the idiots hadn’t gotten beaten.

“It’s the police!”

The sticky, sweaty voices of men echoing from afar.

Late dawn.

All the men strolling the streets were wearing Engineering department jackets and were walking this way.

“This is Anonymous 300! You can take a break, but you can never quit!”

“This is Anonymous 301! Popo! I love Boss Popo on the stream!”

“This is Anonymous 302! Stream name Porolamin!”

Popo’s eyes, which were blankly staring at the Engineering department jackets, turned red again.

‘This is what Chan-woo was talking about.’

He said he called everyone he could.

With a heart full of disbelief, I turned on the Bamboo Forest app and showed the post written there to Popo.

- Anonymous 321: Fellow Engineering department students. Popo needs help. Please contact second-year engineering student Jeong Chan-woo.

↳ Anonymous 301: I’m from the Engineering department. I made a group chat.

↳ Anonymous302: I’m from the Department of Construction Engineering. Popo has a broadcast today, but since it’s not on, I was wondering if something happened.

↳ Anonymous303: I’m from the Department of Construction Engineering. Chan-woo, what’s going on.

Anonymous321 was Chan-woo.

Judging by the time the post was made, it was before dealing with the thugs at the entrance.

It seems he called out like this because he was worried since he couldn’t reach me.

‘Ah, thank goodness.’

Hearing the sirens, the police were also arriving.

I thought it was really over now, but.

“Ha, these cute bastards.”

President Hwang, as if intending to take things to the extreme, clenched his teeth and strode towards us.

“You damn bastards. Do you think I’ll just stand by? Kim Woojin, that son of a bitch, relied on his parents, didn’t he?”

“…He did rely on his parents.”

Nodding in agreement, it seemed to make President Hwang even angrier, as he came stomping towards us.

“It’s not just my parents that I trust.”

Step.

A person blocking the path between me and President Hwang.

Hair tied up, peeking out from under a white cap.

A dragon jumper that’s as good as their trademark.

A baseball bat showing the traces of time on their shoulder.

“Whew.”

Spitting the cigarette butt from her mouth onto the ground, senior Ju-hee blocks President Hwang’s way.

“Pretty girl.”

“Yes, Boss!”

Did you really think I’d only call idiots when fighting gangsters?

The last bastion.

Our great leader turns her back, saying just one line.

“Pick up the cigarette butt, I’m a bit busy.”

“Yes! Of course, ma’am! I’ll pick them all up!”

The moment I quickly picked up the cigarette butt that senior Ju-hee dropped.

Senior Ju-hee’s baseball bat strikes directly into President Hwang’s abdomen.

“Ugh!”

President Hwang’s body bends like the letter ‘L’.

His pupils, which didn’t even flinch when men rushed at him, trembled as he glared at senior Ju-hee.

However, there was no mercy in senior Ju-hee’s bat swing.

Smack!

The bat struck again on the fallen back.

As the refreshing sound of impact echoed, President. Hwang’s body was thrown forward, and this time, senior Ju-hee’s knee kick landed squarely on his face.

At the moment his body, which was thrown forward, was about to fall backward.

“Hoo-wup!”

Once again, senior Ju-hee’s club swung swiftly and struck President Hwang’s abdomen as he fell backward.

“Ugh!”

President Hwang retched violently.

Seeing this, senior Ju-hee looked down at President Hwang with cold eyes and muttered.

“Why do these guys keep showing up even after being dealt with?”

Ah, I really shouldn’t mess around.

Honestly, I didn’t think we would win.

I just thought she would buy us some time until the police arrived.

“I love you, Captain Ju-hee!”

As soon as I raised both hands to cheer for Senior Ju-hee, she looked startled and flinched, glancing my way.

“Sh-shut up.”

Perhaps embarrassed by her fierce demeanor, her face turned slightly red as a bonus.

‘Or maybe it’s red from getting President Hwang’s blood on her?’