As the afternoon classes started, Kang Chan sat inside the counseling office with Mr. Seok Kang-Ho.
“Man.”
Kang Chan sighed. Seok Kang-Ho glanced at him and tried to study his face.
“Do you have any cigarettes?” Kang Chan asked.
“You can’t smoke inside the counseling office…” Seok Kang-Ho responded.
Kang Chan raised his hand and acted as though he was about to smack Seok Kang-Ho.
“...Sir.”
“Don’t speak informally,” Kang Chan chided.
Seok Kang-Ho lifted his angular jaw and looked at Kang Chan’s fierce eyes before smacking his lips and lowering his gaze.
This was nuts. Dayeru was Seok Kang-Ho’s—no, Seok Kang-Ho was Dayeru’s alter ego…? In any case, they were the same person. The timing was similar, just that Dayeru had been in his wife’s arms while Kang Chan had been in the hospital.
“Was it good?”
“What was…Sir?”
“Being in your wife’s arms.”
“Even if my wife dies, I have no regrets.”
“Oh my, look at this dumbass.”
“Someone’s listening.”
“You’re full of shit.”
“Are you really going to drop out of school?” Seok Kang-Ho quickly changed the topic as soon as the conversation stopped working in his favor.
“I told you I was going to France!”
“You’re planning to return to that hellish place?” Seok Kang-Ho asked.
Kang Chan pursed his lips and tapped the table with his index finger.
“This is strange. There was clearly a spy among us. If we don’t find out why, I won’t be able to sit still, because I’ll keep thinking about my men who died an unjust death.”
“Let’s go during the school holidays. Vacation starts in a month and a half, so go with me then. Even if it’s just during the holidays, I’ll help you.”
“Do you think we’re going on a picnic?”
“Then what do you want to do? They won’t accept me. I’m old.”
“Just stay here. You have a wife and a stable job. What’s the issue?”
“Hoo.”
Seok Kang-Ho ran his fingers through his hair with his large hand, feeling frustrated. It was true he had gotten older, but more importantly, it was just like Kang Chan said: he had become attached to this place. Within a short span of time, his wife and child had already captured his heart. Well, he used to be a lonely man after all.
“Do you still remember how to speak Algeria’s languages?” Kang Chan asked.
“Strangely, although I speak Korean naturally, I’m still fluent in Algeria’s languages. I was pretty shocked initially.”
That could happen.
“Don’t be difficult. Let’s go during the school holidays. I want to teach a couple of guys a lesson, and the thought’s been driving me insane over here. The timing will be just right if we take care of them.”
Seok Kang-Ho hit his chest twice with his palm.
“Those fellas we saw today are in an alliance. They have gangsters backing them up. Even without them, they were planning to capture me.” Kang Chan smirked.
“Oh? They’re not easy to deal with.”
“Shut up. Are you really going to fight children because you have nothing better to do?”
“You saw what happened today. They may be students, but they totally act like neighborhood gangsters. Let’s say we’re doing something good and wait till the vacation! That’s all I’m asking. What do you think?”
“You told me you were going to do that.”
“As a teacher, wouldn’t I be criminally prosecuted for cruel treatment the moment I get caught? I have to wear a mask too. There are a lot of things I’m concerned about.”
Kang Chan tilted his head.
“Are you truly Dayeru?”
“Why? If not, how would I have known you were the God of Blackfield?”
“But how did you become so narrow-minded?”
“I just don’t want to go to prison after being reincarnated.”
That might well be the case.
“Tsk.”
“Will you help me?”
“Bring me a cigarette.”
“Okay.” Seok Kang-Ho got up from his seat, looking happy.
“One month?”
The duration didn’t really matter all that much. But that didn’t mean he was going to fight with those little brats.
Kang Chan looked at the window of the counseling office, and Seok Kang-Ho came back shortly after. He dragged the sofa over and blocked the door.
“The counseling office cannot be locked because of the female students.”
“Ah, right! I slapped a girl earlier. Have you dealt with her?”
“That’s nothing new to her, so it’s not a big deal. As for the other guys, I dealt with them appropriately and sent them to the hospital. Since they were in possession of dangerous weapons as a group, they wouldn’t be able to make much noise. As a teacher, I also told them what I was going to tell the cops, so it seems like I’ve more or less managed to cover up the incident.”
Kang Chan smoked his cigarette without saying a word.
“So let’s go during the school vacation in a month.”
Seok Kang-Ho looked so pitiful that Kang Chan couldn’t bring himself to say no.
“Sure. If I don’t flunk out, we’ll go during vacation, but I don’t want to deal with those children.”
Kang Chan thoroughly exhaled the cigarette smoke once more in front of the sad Seok Kang-Ho.
***
Seok Kang-Ho’s efforts were all in vain, as the hospital filed a report with the authorities. Since there were too many patients with stab wounds, the emergency room had to report it in accordance with their rules and regulations.
It was already the second time Kang Chan showed up to school and was greeted by patrol cars. Seok Kang-Ho insisted on writing a letter guaranteeing he would take Kang Chan to the precinct instead of letting the police drag him into a patrol car and haul him there, so the police officers questioned Kang Chan in the counseling office instead.
“Seriously, what kind of person are you?”
The policeman that took the report frowned, looking fed up. Ten people had waited on the rooftop with weapons and had lured Kang Chan there, so he found it hard to believe what had happened after that.
He smacked his lips and looked at his co-worker sitting next to him.
“Let’s forget about it,” one of the policemen said.
“Then, this brat will be expelled from school. He’s going to feel very victimized.” The other responded.
“If something goes wrong, we might get in trouble trying to cover up the incident.”
At that moment, Seok Kang-Ho, who had been walking on eggshells, stepped forward.
“Naturally, I’ll pay for the hospital fees and take responsibility so the victims won't file any lawsuits. Please handle this amicably.”
“I understand what you’re trying to say, but people change their minds very easily. My neck will be on the line if this isn’t handled properly. A lot of children got injured, and I don’t know what their parents are going to do.” The officer responded to Seok Kang-Ho.
“What kind of parents would want their child to be expelled from school? As you can see from his records here, he had always been a kind and introverted person prior to the incident. He was also admitted to the hospital for over a month because of an accident that gave him a delusional disorder. I’m sure there was also a teacher you were thankful for back when you were a student, no?” Kang-Ho continued to plead Kang Chan’s case.
The two police officers smacked their lips and looked through the report.
“It’s a revenge attack, and the majority of the people he hospitalized are known to be school bullies, so there wouldn’t be any other charges. If there’s an issue, I’ll resign from teaching.”
“There’s no need for you to do that, sir.”
“How can I call myself a teacher if I were to forsake such a student?”
Perhaps he was clenching his teeth, but Seok Kang-Ho’s face was twitching.
“Hmm, can you really ensure nobody files for any charges?”
“Officer?”
“I will assume all responsibility. Nothing would’ve happened if the hospital hadn’t reported it.” Seok Kang-Ho pleaded.
Even though his subordinate’s eyes were full of concern, the police officer in charge of the case stared at Kang Chan while pursing his lips. “Can you promise not to do such a thing ever again?”
Kang Chan tightened his jaw hard to stop himself from laughing.
“Alright. We’re letting you off because of your teacher, understood? Your teacher saved you, so be remorseful for what you’ve done, okay?”
“Yes, sir.”
Kang Chan responded that way, not because of his desire to go to school, but because he felt sorry for Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook.
“In that case, Mr. Seok, I’ll go to the hospital and visit the victims. If they sign a statement stating they won’t file for any charges, then we’ll pretend this never happened. Instead of saying they got hurt from a fight, please think of other reasonable excuses.”
“Thank you. Thank you. I’ll go to the hospital first and comfort the children then. Thank you very much.”
“Isn’t it hard to teach kids these days? Seeing you reminds me of a teacher who cared deeply about me in the past. So I’m determined to help him today as well. Please ensure there will be no problems in the future.”
When the police officer got up, Seok Kang-Ho got up as well.
How else could he react in such a situation?
Looking down, Kang Chan got up from his seat and stood next to Seok Kang-Ho.
“You have to hold it in, son. From now on, no matter who bullies you, you have to think of your teacher’s kindness. Control your anger and put up with them. Understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
How would the police have reacted if they had heard Seok Kang-Ho’s suggestion to beat up the bullies?
“I’ll trust you, Mr. Seok. I’ll be going to the hospital in about two hours, and because it’s been reported to the central center, the students must say it wasn’t an assault. If they don’t, then there’s nothing else I can do.”
“If they wanted to report him, do you think they would’ve kept silent the entire time before the hospital reported it? You really don’t have to worry about that. Thank you.”
“I’m moved by the fact that people like you exist, Mr. Seok. I’ll take my leave now.”
After the two police officers left, Kang Chan sat down. Seok Kang-Ho walked the two of them out and came back shortly after.
“Please head back to class.”
“You want me to go to class?”
“I have to go to the hospital too, and haven’t you been here for too long?”
“Your words are getting curter by the second, huh?”
“Huh, hmm. I’m old. Let’s just leave it at that and move on.”
Kang Chan smirked. Indeed, Dayeru was originally a year older than him. Kang Chan didn’t want to be treated respectfully. He had no choice but to go to class.