Money, money, money. (Revised)
As Seowoon raised his hand while speaking, a student named Seonghwan was lifted into the air.
"Agh! It hurts! It's really going to break!"
"Right. A person's arm consists of two bones: the radius and ulna. When pressure is applied like this, they break easily. And broken bones cause intense pain."
Crunch!
"Aaaaah! P-Please!"
As a terrifying sound came from his arm, the students around froze in place, unable to move.
"But did you know? Elderly people have bones that are several times weaker than yours. Even a small impact can cause fractures. So what do you think would happen if a guy with just brute strength like you pushed a frail old man?"
"M-Mister… We were wrong…"
Seowoon ignored the skinny student beside the big guy who was sneering, and continued speaking.
"You work out, right? Judo?"
The student whose arm was being held nodded his head violently.
"Then you should know well about bones. Once they break, it takes a long time to heal. Especially if the radius or ulna breaks sharply, it can tear through the skin and protrude."
"P-Please…"
Now, tears were flowing from Seonghwan's eyes and drool dripped from the corner of his mouth.
"And you also know this well. With my grip strength, I could crush your thick bones beyond repair."
"I was wrong… Please… I… I need to keep working out…"
Only then did Seowoon let go of Seonghwan's wrist.
"Right. At your age, it's natural to make mistakes. But when that happens, you admit your mistake and apologize, just like now. Adults can't do that so easily, but you're still young. That's why it's important to recognize your wrongs and learn to apologize. Got it?"
Seowoon bent down and brought his face in front of Seonghwan's, who was clutching his arm and trembling violently as he nodded.
As everyone with pale faces stared at Seowoon, a presence was felt from behind.
"What the hell, drinking out here in the mountains? If you don't have a place, just say so. I told you, we'll make room at our bar."
"Hehe, but boss, we did bring the girls from XX Girls' High you mentioned last time."
"Oh really? Huh? Now what's going on here?"
When he turned around, a man in a black suit—clearly over thirty—appeared, being guided by a student in a school uniform.
Sigh.
At the same time as Seowoon's sigh, the skinny student rushed over to the man.
"Boss! That bastard crippled Seonghwan!"
At that, the man in the black suit approached Seowoon.
"Hey. Who the hell are you, messing up our future ace like this?"
Looking at Seonghwan's arm, now badly bruised, the man lit a cigarette and waited for Seowoon's reply.
"I told you earlier, right? That since you kids are young, it's okay to make mistakes as long as you admit them. But adults can't do that. If you grow up insisting you're never wrong, you end up as scumbags like him. A grown man leering at high school girls while drinking, waiting for a chance to pounce. Disgusting bastard."
No sooner had Seowoon finished speaking than the man's fist flew at him.
He was even bigger than Seonghwan, and his punch came fast.
One glance at the incoming fist showed it wasn't his first time throwing one—it was rough and calloused.
Seowoon charged toward the punch and slammed his head into it.
Crack!
"Guh!"
The man stumbled back, clutching his fist with the opposite hand.
"You know which bone in the human body is the weakest? It's the ones in that precious fist of yours. The hand is made up of small, fragile bones. And the strongest bone? Right here—the skull."
"Y-You son of a b—!"
Swearing, the man pulled a sharp kitchen knife from his coat and lunged at Seowoon.
"Pay attention, all of you. If you don't want to end up like this dumbass—who swings fists over trivial arguments, and then pulls a knife when things don't go his way—learn now. That kind of person either ends up in jail after stabbing someone, or runs into someone like me and gets the crap beaten out of them."
As Seowoon spoke to the kids, the man took the chance to swing his knife at Seowoon's thigh.
But the blade sliced through air, and Seowoon's lightly thrown punch struck the man's shoulder.
Crunch!
The man heard the sound of his shoulder dislocating as loud as thunder inside his head.
With his arm hanging limp and searing pain shooting through him whenever he tried to raise it, the man collapsed on the spot.
"It's just one shoulder dislocated. Why are you collapsing like that? Your legs are still fine."
"L-Let's stop this…"
"You try to kill someone and think saying 'let's stop' is enough? I told you earlier—adults can't just walk away from their mistakes. Adults have to take responsibility for them. Whether that means legal consequences or…"
Smack.
As Seowoon's foot lightly struck the man's right knee while he was squatting on the ground, the man began to thrash and foam at the mouth.
"Urk…"
"This could be considered assault, you know. People who live by violence eventually crumble before even greater violence."
The skinny student who had rushed at the man full of bravado immediately dropped to his knees and sat down the moment his eyes met Seowoon's.
"I'm sorry."
"Well, whatever happens, it's your life."
After saying that, Seowoon lightly kicked the groaning man's jaw, knocking him out cold, then turned his back on the clearing and descended the mountain.
All the way home, Seowoon kept shaking his head, face flushed with embarrassment.
"Ah, geez… Who do I think I am, lecturing and showing off my strength to ordinary people…"
Now that his head had cooled a bit, he felt utterly ashamed of himself.
He'd acted like some kind of superhero, flaunting his strength like a third-rate action movie character.
In this world where martial arts were dormant, Seowoon had stored up internal energy in his dantian that amounted to half a lifetime's worth.
No matter how vicious the man had seemed, as a mere civilian, he was no match.
Beating him down in front of the kids and acting superior by lecturing him—no matter how many times he thought about it, it just wasn't right.
'Of course, I didn't even use my internal energy…'
The truth was, the opponent wasn't even threatening enough to require it.
"Sigh, I don't know…"
Trying to cool his burning face, Seowoon quickened his steps down the mountain.
The real reason he'd been so heavy-handed today was because of all the school violence he'd witnessed back in his student days.
The bullies, and the kids who suffered under them.
Maybe he'd been lucky, but he had never personally gotten involved. One of his close friends, though, had been a frequent target.
Back then, those punks didn't seem like a big deal, but to Seowoon, they had looked terrifying and overwhelming.
He had always been ashamed of not having the courage to stand up for that friend.
Perhaps that memory was why Seowoon had spoken out and lectured the man—saying all the things he couldn't say back then.
"The storm and stress of youth…"
Muttering that, Seowoon entered his home and sat down cross-legged.
It had been a month since Seowoon returned from the other world.
His days had become routine.
During the day, he cultivated energy through breathing exercises, and at night he trained in fist technique and silent movement technique in the open clearing near the spring.
Ever since that incident, no more students in school uniforms had shown up at the clearing.
The more his body grew accustomed to fist technique and silent movement technique , the more uneasy Seowoon became.
'Who knows when I'll be dragged back. Is this enough to survive?'
He had digested the Cheongun Pill, but even that was nowhere near the internal energy he had accumulated in the other world. And now, he felt a creeping fear of being pulled back into Cloid Survival again.
One day, while immersed in martial arts training, Seowoon's phone—usually just a makeshift watch—started to ring. Puzzled, he tilted his head.
'Spam?'
Seeing "Mom" on the screen, Seowoon suddenly felt a pang in his chest.
"Hello?"
—Seowoon, how are you doing?
"I'm good. How are you, Mom?"
—I'm doing fine. I just called since I haven't heard from you in a while. I was wondering how your academy classes are going.
Claiming he was studying for TOEIC, Seowoon had rushed to get a cheap one-room apartment and live independently after leaving the military. Now he felt a pang of guilt.
'I'm not studying languages… I'm cultivating martial arts.'
Swallowing words he could never say out loud, Seowoon forced a cheerful tone.
"I'm doing fine, no need to worry."
—Of course. I knew you'd do well. Are you okay with work and classes?
"Yeah… it's not that hard."
Having proudly declared he'd earn his own living expenses and allowance through part-time jobs, Seowoon felt even guiltier.
—I see…
Sensing hesitation in his mother's voice, Seowoon asked directly.
"Is something wrong?"
—Well… Do you maybe have a little extra from your part-time pay?
"Money? Why? What happened?"
—Oh, never mind. Between rent and your academy fees, I shouldn't have brought it up. Don't worry about it, just make sure you eat well. I'll come visit soon.
"Mom! If it's about money… I have some saved up. What's going on?"
—It's just… Your dad told me not to tell you, but… he's in the hospital. He got injured and needs back surgery. We're short on the surgery fee right now…
His father had worked tirelessly his entire life, never once taking a real break.
It wasn't a glamorous or high-paying job, but he'd supported the family driving a forklift. Now to hear he was hurt brought a lump to Seowoon's throat.
"How did he get hurt? I'll try to get the money together. How much do you need?"
—About two million won… Your dad's been struggling lately, and he canceled his insurance a while ago. If we'd known this would happen, we wouldn't have…
Clenching the necklace he'd taken from a subspace pouch, Seowoon spoke with determination.
"Don't worry about the money. I can handle that. But… Mom, are you okay?"
—I'm always healthy, you know that.
"You've always said that, ever since I was little."
"Mom, don't worry. I'll send the money today."
After ending the call, Seowoon's eyes welled up with tears.
His parents had spent their lives moving from one rented home to another.
His father, especially, had worked harder than anyone, but as he aged, his income decreased. His job was easily replaceable, and he often had to change companies.
Still, he had always lived earnestly. And now, to be short on surgery fees in middle age—it felt so unfair that emotion surged up in Seowoon.
'First…'
Placing the necklace into his backpack, Seowoon slung it over his shoulders and left the house.
On the subway to Seoul, he searched frantically on his phone. He eventually headed to Jongno, known for its numerous jewelry shops.
As he passed street after street lined with gold and silver stores, he felt certain he'd find someone to buy the necklace.
Seowoon hesitated in front of several shops, peeking inside with growing anxiety, but unable to step in.
'There's no certificate… What if they report me?'
Worried that instead of buying it, someone might suspect him or take advantage, he finally made up his mind and walked into a shop with resolve.
"Welcome. What can I show you?"
"No, I actually came to sell a necklace."
"May I see it?"
Seowoon took Ascro's necklace out of his bag.
The young woman running the jewelry store, who had been watching Seowoon with a smile, widened her eyes the moment she saw the necklace emerge from his bag.
"This is…"
Seowoon clenched his fists nervously, sensing that the woman's gaze had gone hazy as if entranced by the necklace.
"The craftsmanship is incredible."
The necklace wasn't simple in design—it was elaborately adorned along the front and served as a symbol of the Ascro Magic Council, acknowledged even by nobility. It was quite extravagant.
"This doesn't seem like it's from our country…"
"It's a family heirloom, passed down for five generations."
"Five generations? The craftsmanship does seem like it's not of modern times."
Trying his best to act calm, Seowoon answered and watched her quietly. The woman met his gaze and finally spoke.
"This is worth more than the price of gold… Are you sure you want to sell it here?"
She spoke as if it were a shame to part with something so valuable. Seowoon sighed and began to explain.
"My father needs surgery. It's not something I should be selling like this… but things are urgent, so I don't have a choice."
Rather than lie, he chose to mix in some truth. Hearing this, she nodded as if understanding his situation.
"You don't have a certificate for it, I assume…"
Her words made him flinch inside, but he simply nodded silently instead of replying.
"Pure gold, huh."
"Yes. I was told it's pure gold."
"Let's weigh it."
She placed the necklace on the scale. It came out to 140 grams.
"That's just over 37 don (Korean weight unit). Our current buying price is 160,000 won per don…"
She tapped on her calculator while eyeing the necklace, then, after a moment's thought, she spoke.
"If you sell it to me, I'll give you 6.1 million won. That's a lot of money, and I think it holds value as an antique, which is why I'm offering more. A pawnshop wouldn't give you this much, and other stores probably wouldn't either."
Surprised by how heavy the necklace was, Seowoon nodded without hesitation.
"I'll sell it."
Even as he spoke, he maintained a regretful expression, pretending to be reluctant. Seeing this, the woman quickly handed him a form, as if afraid he might change his mind.
"Please write your name and resident registration number here, and show me your ID."
He filled out the form and handed over his ID. After checking it briefly, she smiled and said,
"Please write down your bank account number."
Before he'd even finished writing it down, she was already transferring the money via her phone.
"Check your account."
Seowoon checked his phone and saw the large sum of 6.1 million won had indeed been deposited.
"It's in. Thank you, then."
"Yes, take care."
Peeking into the store from outside, Seowoon saw her admiring the necklace with a satisfied smile.
He hadn't done anything illegal, so giving his personal information hadn't been a concern. But he still felt uneasy—what if the necklace was actually worth an astronomical amount due to its antique value, and he had just sold it for a pittance?
'Too late. It's not like I have any proper means to sell it anyway.'
He decided to be satisfied with having made far more money than he expected.
As he headed for the subway, he transferred 4 million won to his mother's account and started toward home, when his phone rang.
"Yes, Mom."
—Why did you send so much money? Where did you get it?
"I used the money I saved during my military service, and the rest came from part-time jobs. I just sent what I could spare."
His calm response made his mother ask with concern.
—You didn't take out a loan or anything, did you?
"Mom, I don't even have a job. How could I get a loan? It's just extra cash, so don't worry and use it."
Speaking nonchalantly, he sensed she was beginning to believe him.
—I'm sorry, son.
"It's really okay. I'll stop by the hospital soon. Make sure you're eating well."
—Alright. Thank you, son.
After ending the call, Seowoon felt a pang of bitterness. His mother's guilt over receiving just 4 million won weighed heavily on him.
Of course, it wasn't a small amount. If he hadn't had Ascro's necklace, or if he hadn't been able to participate in Cloyd Survival, he would've been in a terrible bind. Still, seeing his parents struggle over a few million won made it impossible to feel lighthearted.
There were countless rich people in the world, people with more money than they could ever need.
But there were also many who, despite living diligently, were constantly pursued by financial hardship, never able to find peace.
People like him and his family, labeled as "ordinary."
Crying over money, worrying over money, sometimes even facing death because of it—that was the harsh reality of the world. Seowoon's gaze sharpened at the thought.
'I won't let this opportunity slip away.'
[T/L: Read extra chapters on my ko-fi page "Pokemon1920" : https://ko-fi.com/pokemon1920 ]