The Tough Guy Hides the Villainess

The school volunteer activity, “Picking up Trash,” came to an end.

Since I had lived in a junkyard not long ago, picking up random scraps off the ground didn’t even feel like labor.

Before I knew it, it was 5 PM—time to start heading home.

I was getting worried about Seo Ga-eul, who I had left tied up next door since this morning.

Though I had bound her securely with chains, I couldn’t help but wonder if her awakened strength had let her escape.

Honestly, I was so anxious I couldn’t focus on anything.

Maybe I should install something like a “home cam”.

You know, like the cameras single women with dogs set up in their apartments to check on their pets while they’re out.

If I installed one in Seo Ga-eul’s basement and checked her status on my phone, it would be the perfect real-time surveillance system.

I really am a genius!

The smartest middle school dropout in the world!

“What are you thinking about so hard?”

Tap.

Someone touched my shoulder just then.

When I turned around, Yoo Yeoreum was holding two cold drink cans, offering one to me.

Sssshhhk.

Ah, the refreshing sound of a carbonated drink after work.

It reminded me of the time in the ruined world when I did everything I could just to drink this cola.

I felt tears welling up—no, I was already crying!

Drip, drip—!

“…Is it so good it makes you cry? You’re strange. Are you so shocked that Seo Ga-eul didn’t come to school because she’s sick? Or have you always been a weird person?”

Yoo Yeoreum looked me over as if confused.

At that moment, a chill ran down my spine.

I didn’t know why Seo Ga-eul’s absence was recorded as “sick leave” rather than “missing”, but I couldn’t predict how long that would last.

Eventually, an investigation into her disappearance would start.

If I acted suspiciously then, I’d undoubtedly be exposed.

Damn it!

I was furious.

Did this mean I had to keep attending this ridiculous high school?

Imagine if I suddenly dropped out or started skipping school after Seo Ga-eul disappeared.

It would only raise suspicion.

Therefore, I had to maintain an outwardly normal daily routine.

As I was thinking about this, Yoo Yeoreum tossed her crushed can into a nearby trash can and gestured toward some kids in the distance.

“Looks like your friends are waiting for you. Well, I’m heading out.”

Tap, tap.

Yoo Yeoreum disappeared lightly, like a feather.

In her place, Geum Tae-sung, Choi Chang-sik, Baek Yeoul, and Oh Deok-soon were rushing toward me.

“Nam-jin, why haven’t you been checking CocoaTalk? We were thinking of strategizing for tomorrow’s group practice at Chang-sik’s house. What do you think? You’re our team leader, after all.”

At Geum Tae-sung’s question, I recalled today’s lesson.

I vaguely remembered the captain saying, “We’ll have another group practice tomorrow, so prepare well.”

“We’re meeting at Chang-sik’s house today?”

“That’s right, friend! I insist that you come over!”

Why today, of all days!

I needed to go home and check on Seo Ga-eul, but today of all days, Chang-sik had to invite me over.

I could easily refuse, but judging by everyone’s faces, the mood wasn’t right to decline.

“Let’s go! Let’s go!”

# # #

Chang-sik’s house wasn’t as run-down as my neighborhood, but it was still quite dilapidated.

The difference was that it had a lively, human touch.

It had the cozy vibe of an old-town neighborhood.

There were plenty of cat-moms’ feeding bowls, and many cats roamed around, which I particularly liked.

These people wouldn’t go hungry anytime soon.

“This is my house.”

「Strongest Resources」

Simply put, Chang-sik’s house was a scrapyard.

Scrap paper, glass bottles, and all sorts of discarded items were piled up in a fairly large yard, neatly organized.

Everyone was busy staring with their mouths agape.

“…It might look a little messy, though.”

Chang-sik blushed as if embarrassed by his home.

He scratched his nose and checked everyone’s expressions, but honestly, I was extremely impressed.

“It’s like a treasure mountain!”

So many recyclables had been collected, and the quality was too good to simply call them junk.

They looked like they could be useful in various ways.

“Chang-sik, did you collect all this?”

“No, most of it was gathered by my father….”

“Your father has an incredible eye for these things.”

“R-really? That’s the first time I’ve heard that. I mean… it’s not exactly something you brag about, is it? Still….”

Slide.

Chang-sik looked at me.

“Friend, seeing you makes me think I’m pretty fortunate. You could say I’ve gained some confidence. Anyway, come on in. It might be even more chaotic inside!”

Creak.

When we slid open the door and entered, the house was fairly spacious but filled with countless items.

Most of them were—.

“Bottle caps!”

To be precise, crown caps.

Like the ones from beer bottles.

They were stacked neatly like treasures, and I felt so overjoyed I thought foam might come out of my mouth.

This many bottle caps?

With these, I could live like a wealthy man even in a ruined world!

Not even Jack Sparrow discovering a chest of gold would be happier than me right now!

“Chang-sik, what is all this?”

“Collecting bottle caps is one of my dad’s hobbies. Every drawer in the house is filled with them. Honestly, I used to hate him for it. I hated the bottle caps.”

Slide.

Chang-sik picked up a bottle cap lying around the house.

Then, with a puff of breath—he turned it into a coin-shaped chocolate of similar size.

“I was teased countless times because of this junk-filled house. So I used to think, ‘What if these bottle caps were real money?’ Or if they were something else entirely—.”

“That was your awakening motivation?”

When Geum Tae-sung, who had been inspecting the caps, asked, Choi Chang-sik nodded.

Driven by the desperate wish for the bottle caps at home to be something else, Choi Chang-sik acquired the concept of 「Transformation」and became a candy-maker capable of producing infinite candy.

To think he could even turn bottle caps into chocolate!

In terms of importance, he was probably the second most remarkable awakened person, right after Seo Ga-eul!

“Chang-sik, let’s stay close from now on. Don’t forget me even if you succeed in the future.”

“…I don’t think I could forget you or your tiger-patterned underwear, even if I tried. Oh, by the way, there’s a mini-car track here! The mini-car you gave me as a gift last time is still here─.”

“Chang-sik, do you have anything like CCTV or a home cam?”

“If you’re talking about cameras, there should be a few in the camera section. Do you need one?”

“I want to monitor my yard because cat-moms keep leaving food for cats when I’m not home. While you’re at it, give me a fly swatter to chase the cats away.”

It was nearing dinnertime by then.

Chang-sik and I were boiling ramen while chatting about various things when he seemed to grow curious about something.

“Friend, you have two concepts, don’t you?”

“That’s right.”

“Honestly, even acquiring one concept is difficult. That’s why I’m curious about how you ended up with ‘Leap’ and ‘Emotion’. Would you mind telling me, if it’s not too personal?”

“Me?”

It was hard to explain ‘Emotion’, as I had received it from Seo Ga-eul, but ‘Leap’ was simple enough to talk about.

Not that it was particularly impressive.

“About two years ago, there was a big fire at a large shopping mall, remember?”

“Are you talking about the N-Mart fire started by that crazy awakened arsonist?”

“Yeah. I happened to be on the first floor of N-Mart at the time, but my mom and dad were on the fourth floor. Because of the raging fire, both the elevator and the stairs were unusable, leaving no way to go up or down.”

That was all I explained.

Chang-sik made a variety of expressions as if deep in thought, then soon grew quite somber and placed a hand on my shoulder.

“Friend, I’m truly sorry about your parents. I regret asking something that brought this up.”

“It’s fine. It’s been a long time, so I’m okay now. By the way, don’t you think we need to add more ssamjang and ketchup to this ramen?”

“No, no matter how you look at it, that’s just wrong….”

We enjoyed a delicious dinner together.

However, Baek Yeoul seems dissatisfied about something.

“Something’s missing from the ramen’s flavor today.”

See?

I told you we needed more ssamjang and ketchup.

Before we knew it, it was late afternoon.

In the end, we hadn’t discussed any strategies for tomorrow’s group project.

“Well, I’ll head home first since I’m going in the same direction as Deok-hee.”

“…”

Geum Tae-sung, unusually quiet today, disappeared in the same direction as the shy girl, Deok-soon.

Watching them, Baek Yeoul turned to me and said:

“Don’t you think those two are suspicious?”

“You’re the most suspicious one. How can a person’s hair be pink?”

“I’m not joking! I think Deok-hee might like Tae-sung. Should we support them or help somehow?”

At this age, students loved tying everything to romantic relationships.

Maybe because of her pink hair, Baek Yeoul’s head seemed filled with nothing but rosy daydreams.

“Yeoul, why don’t you help me and Seo Ga-eul instead?”

“…”

Baek Yeoul scowled at me.

It seemed her ‘Ga-eul allergy’ wasn’t going away anytime soon.

“I’m leaving too!”

Baek Yeoul, who seemed to be in a sudden foul mood, disappeared around the corner.

Now, only I was left.

I waited until I couldn’t sense anyone around, then quickly ran home.

To be precise, I headed to the basement of the house next door.

# # #

Clank, creeeak—click.

When I opened the basement door and turned on the bare bulb, I saw Seo Ga-eul lying there quietly in the dim basement.

She hadn’t escaped!

I felt relief and, at the same time, a strange exhilaration filled my chest.

It felt like secretly raising a Pokémon that only I knew about.

I don’t know—it was hard to describe this feeling since it was my first time experiencing it.

In any case, the mere fact that I had come home and Seo Ga-eul was still there made me excited.

“We’re just like a newlywed couple, don’t you think?”

“…”

Of course, Seo Ga-eul didn’t say a word, only glaring at me with fierce eyes.

“You didn’t even drink the water?”

Seo Ga-eul hadn’t even touched the bottle of water I’d left for her.

She must be extremely thirsty.

And hungry, too.

Awakened ones have a higher metabolism than regular people, consuming far more calories, so starving is especially hard for them.

And yet, she hadn’t taken a sip of water.

How stubborn could she be?

That’s not good.

It’s my responsibility to keep Seo Ga-eul in good condition.

But first, let’s install the home cam I brought from Chang-sik’s house—.

Clatter, clatter.

While I was installing the camera on the ceiling, Seo Ga-eul, who had been silent until now, suddenly screamed like an angry fox.

“If you set that up, I’ll bite my tongue and die.”

“What?”

“I said if you set up the camera, I’ll kill myself.”

It didn’t sound like an empty threat.

She’s the type who’d really do it if she said she would.

If Seo Ga-eul died, my ‘Soft and Squishy’ concept would be gone too.

Regretfully, I had no choice but to abandon the camera setup.

What a shame!

Would I have to keep living in fear of whether Seo Ga-eul had escaped or not?

“Your goal is my body, isn’t it?”

“What?”

“I’ve been thinking all day about why you locked me up. In the end, it’s my body you’re after, isn’t it? You men are all the same. Then why don’t you just do what you want and let me go?”

Seo Ga-eul slipped off the blanket I had covered her with, revealing her pale skin.

Even though she’d been covered in dust all day, her thighs were as white as jade.

I felt good.

Finally, Seo Ga-eul seemed willing to cooperate with me!

“Ga-eul, then let’s start with push-ups. The first set will be a light 100 reps—.”

“…What? I said you could do whatever you want! Isn’t it my body you’re after?”

“You’re absolutely right. My goal is to train and strengthen your body. I know just how incredible your potential is. That’s why you can’t waste your body on something cheap like this.”

“…What? Cheap?”

I’d seen it in an old movie, Complete Education.

If you fall for a desperate woman’s first seduction, it’s a guaranteed disaster.

Even knowing that, Seo Ga-eul’s allure was so powerful that even I, the smartest middle school dropout, wavered for a moment.

So, I picked up the fly swatter I’d taken from Chang-sik’s house.

“…What are you planning to do with that?”

“Seo Ga-eul, you need to value your body more. Every time you pull a ridiculous stunt like this, this is what’ll happen! The rod of love!”

I swung the fly swatter and struck Seo Ga-eul’s white thigh!

Smack!

“Ahhh! You crazy bastard!”