The Returnee Wants to Live Comfortably

The Victim Is the Problem? (1)

As soon as the break started, Ahn Jaewook rushed over to Class 6-2.

The sudden declaration of war from Ma Seongjin had burst out of nowhere. For Ahn Jaewook, who thought of himself as the best in the class, there was no way he could just sit still after that.

That guy had been someone with no presence in the class. He was the type the older kids would call an "outsider."
Seeing him suddenly stand up and resist without fear was infuriating.
He wasn't even friends with the new transfer student. He could've just stayed quiet.
But instead, what?

'If you're scared, you can just chicken out.'

The more he thought about it, the more stressed he felt.

He looked down on others just because he was an Awakened and could become a Hunter.

He had wanted to dream of becoming a Hunter like his older brother, but it was unfair that he wasn't an Awakened.

So every time he saw an Awakened, his anger would flare up. The easiest prey to bully was always the transfer student.

Besides, awakened kids can't hurt others anyway.

Even if anything happened to him, his brother wouldn't stay still.

His older brother, Ahn Seongwook, would do anything if he asked. Because of that, no one ever dared to go against him.
Soon, his brother would be entering the Hunter Academy, so even the teachers couldn't touch him recklessly.
So, Ma Seongjin, who had gotten on the wrong side of the two brothers, was as good as dead already.

—What's that bastard's name? Ma Seongjin?

As expected, his brother did not disappoint.
The moment he heard the boy's name, his expression instantly turned furious.

—You should've just punched him! Why did you do nothing? I'm right behind you, aren't I?

His brother said this loudly. As always, his brother was on his side, but that didn't mean he was always gentle.
At the point where his brother had his back, he probably could've punched the guy and gotten away with it.
After all, at school, not even teachers could mess with his brother.
After all, that was the status of a student soon to enter a prestigious academy.

—Is that kid Awakened too? Since you can't hit him, you settled it with a slap battle? With me?

His brother was dumbfounded.
Since assault was forbidden for Awakened kids, suggesting to settle it by a game was easy to understand.
The issue was that the opponent chosen was a 6th grader.
Even if both were Awakened, there was a big difference in school years.
Plus, as mentioned earlier, his brother was talented enough to have secured admission to an institution specializing in Awakened.
In summary...

—Just trust your brother!

Today was going to be Ma Seongjin's funeral.

—I'll call my classmates during lunch. You bring your own class to the basketball court. After we eat.

Ahn Jaewook laughed to himself at the thought of that kid kneeling down.

****

As soon as I finished my lunch, I headed straight to the promised location.

I put some "Jaytee" powder into my school milk and walked leisurely, and by the time I arrived, there were already enough kids gathered to fill a whole grade.

'It's not like a celebrity's coming.'

To be honest, the kid I was up against was pretty well-known at this school.
Ahn Seongwook of Class 6-2.

Like his younger brother, he was big and bulky—he could easily pass for a middle schooler already.

He was also the only student at our school with a confirmed spot at the Hunter training institution.

He had a pretty sociable nature, too.

'Well, that academy is as good as nobility in this country.'

Korea's large-scale Hunter training center, 'Hand'.
It's an educational institution operated with funding from 'The World', the international Hunter management organization.

Only those with high aptitude among Awakened students can enter that amazing place.
If someone had admission to such a prestigious place lined up, the education office would shower them with support.
That's why the teachers treated the student like a king.
In fact, there was even a teacher present for our match.

"Are you Ma Seongjin from Class 1-4?"

"Yes."

"I heard you suddenly challenged Seongwook to a slap battle—is that true?"

When I answered yes, the teacher's face darkened.
He was clearly worrying about me.

The teacher, who had a giant build, was Choi Seung-baek. He taught PE and Magic power Control.
After Awakened people began appearing in the world, the educational system had changed quite a bit.
A new subject had been created to guide children who struggled to handle magic power since birth.
Of course, compared to 'Hand', the professional institution, our school program was a drop in the bucket.

"It'd be best to quit while you can. Even if you're talented, your opponent is Seongwook. Don't regret losing for no reason."

He seemed to already know what competition I was about to undertake.

He seemed genuinely concerned, not because he thought, 'How could someone like you beat a 6th grader?' but because he feared I'd get hurt.

To be honest, I wondered how a 1st grader would feel kneeling before this many people.

This memory from childhood would surely linger well into adulthood.

"So it's not too late. If you just—"

"You don't have to worry, teacher."

I cut him off, and Choi Seung-baek clicked his tongue in disbelief.
He gestured around and spoke.

"Besides, look at this. If I give up in front of all these people, it's obvious what they'll think of me."

Already, over a hundred kids were gathered around.

They were urging us to start the slap battle.

If I ran away now, rumors would spread, and I might end up in the same situation the previous transfer student had suffered.

Maybe, in that case, kneeling would have been better.

"Thank you for your concern. But could you please act as referee instead? I'd appreciate it."

As a teacher in the magic power subject, he clearly intended to referee.

If the matter involved a promising student like Ahn Seongwook, he wanted to observe as much as possible.

Currently a grade school magic power teacher, Choi Seung-baek had once worked as a Hunter.

To him, Ma Seongjin seemed different from the other kids.

Even just now, talking to him felt as if he was conversing with an adult.

"But do you know what I regret most, teacher?"

Just as he thought the conversation was over, Ma Seongjin spoke up again, looking right at him.

"It's standing by as those guys strut around, discriminating and bullying others for looking a bit different."

"What?"

"I'm saying, since teachers can't do anything to avoid trouble from above, I'll take care of it myself. Understood?"

Choi Seung-baek watched in a daze as the child walked to the center of the basketball court.

He couldn't believe such words could come out of a 1st grader's mouth.

"Hey, Ma Seongjin! Why are you so late?"

Ahn Jaewook, who had already been waiting, shouted.

Ahem—

I snorted in response, and Ahn Seongwook frowned and called out.

"Are you the punk who acted up in front of my little brother?"

"Punk? My name is Ma Seongjin."

"Whatever! Just apologize to my brother right now."

Would they get sick if they called someone by name? It felt like they thought my words were the buzzing of a bug.

People like this were so transparent. They looked down on everyone except for their own brothers and family.

"About that apology..."

I shrugged and spoke.

"The one who should be getting an apology is the transfer student who got bullied to death by your brother."

"What?!"

"Did I say anything wrong? You had the school violence prevention education last week, right? Don't tell me you forgot everything you learned already?"

My sarcasm made Ahn Seongwook's insides twist.

He stepped closer and glared at me menacingly.

His face twisted viciously, but all I could do was snicker.

"Pffft!"

"You're laughing right now?"

"Isn't this funny? The person in the wrong is the one getting angry right now."

"Ha...! Are you saying our Jaewook was at fault?"

Ahn Seongwook scoffed, unable to believe it.

He had absolute faith that his one and only brother would never do wrong.

It could never be his brother's fault; the problem clearly must lie with someone else.

That warped sibling bond even led him to spout bizarre logic.

"Don't talk nonsense. Our Jaewook is so nice. Even if he did bully someone, it's not like he did it for no reason."

"So you're saying the bullied kid is the problem?"

"What else could it be! Obviously that punk started it first."

Wow. So he was shifting all the blame?

My mind suddenly went blank.

"Hey."

"Wh—hey?"

When I suddenly spoke up, Ahn Seongwook looked like he couldn't believe what he'd just heard.

Even the onlookers were shocked that a 1st grader was speaking informally to a 6th grader.

But that wasn't the end.

"Sh*t, I don't think I can just leave you alone."

"What the hell...!"

"Just get ready to bow your head to the ground soon."

With that, I counted out 10 slap cards. On Ahn Seongwook's cruelly twisted face, even his brother Ahn Jaewook looked frightened now.

But I wasn't bothered in the least.

Naturally, the other kids were whispering that I was crazy. They probably didn't think this would end with just my head hitting the ground.

The slap cards were made of rubber, the kind you could buy at any stationary store, and the rules were simple.

Whoever took all 10 of the opponent's slap cards would win.
But since this was a match between Awakened, there were key differences from a normal slap cards game.

If you infused your slap cards with magic power, no slap cards could withstand it.
The likely outcome would repeat over and over, but to sustain that result you had to control your magic power with delicacy.
If your magic power ran out, you'd be the only one left playing regular slap cards.
That's where the balance of victory would tip.

"I'll go first."

With Ahn Seongwook's declaration, the game began.
All the ordinary kids around us watched this Awakened slap battle with eyes wide open.

Ahn Seongwook's white slap cards glimmered with a yellow aura.
When the kids realized that was magic power, they got even more excited.

Thwack–!

The instant Ahn Seongwook slapped, my slap cards flipped into the air.
It spun around once in the air, flipping from front to back.

"Yes!"

With a single effortless blow, Ahn Seongwook pumped his fist in satisfaction.

Behind him, Ahn Jaewook cheered, "You're the best, bro!" which made him even prouder.

He turned around and gave his younger brother a thumbs up.

Next was my turn.

Normally, whoever succeeded with the attack would go again, but the rules were different for this match.

If you simply charged your slap cards with magic power, you could just keep succeeding over and over.

So, when it came back to me, Ahn Seongwook watched with a dirty grin.

No wonder he had a spot at "Hand" lined up—Ahn Seongwook's magic power quality was far above mine.
He'd simply been alive and trained longer than me.
It was like a first grader who had just learned addition and subtraction trying to challenge a senior who already mastered multiplication and division.
That's why everyone laughed at me.
But...

Thwack–!

My slap, too, flipped his slap cards over.
The impact wasn't as powerful as Ahn Seongwook's, so it didn't hover in mid-air, but it still flipped, earning the kids' amazement.

"Your turn."

"...!"

When I handed over the turn with attitude, Ahn Seongwook's eyes sharpened.
He poured magic power into his card and slapped again.

Smack–!

This time, maybe from anger, the force was even greater; the sound was much harsher. The slap cards soared higher than before.
It spun several times in the air before falling.
But it didn't land back-side up, and Ahn Jaewook's expression fell.

"Ah..."

It flew high, but luck was not on their side.
The higher the spin, the more random whether it would land face-up or face-down.
It was like tossing a coin. Ahn Seongwook seemed to realize this and said nothing.
My turn again.

Pak–!

Once again, I put the right amount of force into the slap. This time my slap cards flipped from front to back.

"Damn...!"

Seeing my success, Ahn Seongwook muttered to himself.

He was upset that although he'd hit with more force and failed, I succeeded with less.

Ahn Seongwook reinforced his arm with even more magic power.

While it was clear that slap cards was a game of power, this was just wasting magic power.

Meanwhile, I was able to flip the cards with small doses of magic power.

When I first reincarnated, the presence of magic power had surprised me, but in the end, it wasn't much different from the power I'd used in Mewzealand.

Having rolled around for fifty years, generating sufficient power with a little magic power was nothing for me.

Smack–!

Ahn Seongwook slammed his card down again in anger.
But instead of hitting the target, it just struck the ground.
Maybe his rage was clouding his sight. He missed completely.

"My turn, right?"

Pak–!

As always, I flipped the card in one shot.
Now it was 12 to 8. Even the teacher, Choi Seung-baek, was watching me more closely by now.
With each of my successes, Ahn Seongwook's face grew even more contorted.

Smack–!

This time, Ahn Seongwook also succeeded in flipping mine.

Pak–!

But I immediately succeeded again and regained the card.
The slap cards battle continued.

Smack–!
Pak–!
Smack–!
Pak–!

Ahn Seongwook made the same mistakes several times.
Either he sent it flying too high and it didn't flip, or he missed and hit the ground, misjudging the aim.
Meanwhile, I flipped the slap cards every time without a single error.
Not only did I use my magic power appropriately, but my accuracy was flawless.
I'd hit monsters soaring through the sky with magic power shots, so flipping a slap cards was nothing—even with my eyes closed.

"Hey, how many slap cards do you have left?"

"...."

When I asked, Ahn Seongwook's hand trembled and his face twisted.
For a reason:
"Bro! You only have four left!"

"Sh*t!"

While Ahn Seongwook had made several mistakes, I hadn't missed once.
As a result, it was 16 to 4.
And when I looked closely at Ahn Seongwook's trembling hand...

"Run out of magic power already?"

"What?"

"Want to call it quits?"

At my mockery, Ahn Seongwook bit his lip.
He looked frustrated to be losing to a mere 1st grader, but I had no interest in sparing his feelings.

'What? The victim is the problem?'

That was crossing the line.

Even if he was just a thoughtless elementary schooler, there would be no mercy.

Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to find peace of mind.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
I like that the mc has a reverse scale about the bullied kid is at fault...
Bullies really can't take responsibility for their actions...
Especially when they are getting enabled by someone they look up to...
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】