33 – My Own Villain (5)
Kangyun Group. A massive corporation always within the top ranks of the Korean business hierarchy.
Starting from the defense industry, it has expanded into various sectors such as energy, distribution, heavy industry, construction, finance, and culture. Just combining the subsidiaries under the name Kangyun amounts to well over 80.
The tremendous scale of the conglomerate made the name Kangyun easily noticeable within Hanryul Officer Academy. The students’ smartwatches and earsets were prime examples. Moreover, the scientific equipment and weapons within the training grounds were all products of this corporation.
Kangyun Group’s influence was ubiquitous in everyday life. Their impact was truly immense, resembling the image we commonly associate with large corporations.
However.
Even in this powerful and influential Kangyun Group, there was at least one sore spot…
It was none other than Kang Ho-yeon’s son, Kang Tae-hoon.
Kang Tae-hoon, a rare A-rank Awakener born in the powerful Kangyun family. When his abilities were first discovered, the entire family celebrated. Furthermore, the entire nation had high expectations.
While Europe had Arna Kristintir, the talk in Korea was about Kang Tae-hoon.
However, contrary to expectations, as time passed, Kang Tae-hoon’s actions only brought disappointment to the entire nation.
It wasn’t that his abilities as an Awakener were lacking. He had more than proven that. Just looking at his entrance exam scores at Hanryul Officer Academy, he ranked second.
The problem was the personality of a person named Kang Tae-hoon. Rumors circulated since childhood that his emotional intelligence was lacking.
His behavior was different from others. Like a powder keg ready to explode at any moment, he wielded his strength indiscriminately when angered.
His intense competitiveness made him despise losing anything to anyone, be it an object, a position, or anything else.
Due to his eccentric personality, Kang Tae-hoon had caused numerous incidents. Only major events were reported in the media, but if you looked closely, Kang Tae-hoon had committed even more misdeeds.
As a member of a chaebol, he could roam freely like this; if he were an ordinary person, he would have been in jail long ago.
Kang Tae-hoon, the top student at Han Yul Military Academy, known for his talkativeness and rebelliousness. His personality persisted even after returning to school.
The first person he sought out was Senior Arna. The reason was simple: to pull Arna from his position and become the top student himself.
It was a moment when his twisted competitiveness kicked in.
However…
“Why did you come here with that face?! Are you really out of your mind…?”
“What’s the big deal about talking to someone who came to help? What’s with that attitude?”
“Help? Instead, you just poured more oil on the fire!”
Facing the most feared troublemaker, Kang Tae-hoon, Arna didn’t flinch. Instead, he focused solely on the male student in a white patient gown, Shin Yoon-seong.
“Hey, you guys…”
Kang Tae-hoon called them, but they didn’t even look at him. They were engrossed in a verbal fight.
“Explain to people while you’re here! Come on!”
“Explain what? About our relationship?”
“Oh, talking about the sticky relationship that can’t be separated.”
“Benefit…! Are you serious? Are you deliberately doing this? Should I fold that waist in half for you?”
Strange. It felt like he had never been ignored in his life. He was the one who usually made others bow their heads or kneel.
Was Kang Tae-hoon really being ignored now? Just because of that strange spoon guy?
Huh? Something’s irritating.
“Hey. You guys. Are you joking right now? You dare to gossip in front of me. What nonsense is this?”
But no matter how hard he tried to assert his authority, the other party didn’t even glance at him. It was as if they had completely forgotten Kang Tae-hoon’s existence.
“Speak up quickly! We have no relationship!”
“What on earth have you been talking about since earlier, I don’t understand.”
“Ugh…! Do you need a punch to come to your senses? Just break those teeth right now!”
“Ughhh…! Please, listen to people, you bastards! Ack…!”
In the end, Kang Tae-hoon, who wore the lion’s mask, had to retreat. Only then did the other party look at him.
“What’s going on? Is Mr. Kang Taehoon still here?”
“….”
Arna blinked, tilting her head curiously. She continued to gaze at Kang Taehoon in amazement, wondering why he was still here.
This is really unbelievable.
Next, Shin Yoonseong spoke in rapid succession.
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“Arna, what kind of courtesy is that to a guest who came all this way? You should put in all your effort until the last moment of escorting the other person. Hurry up and get his fare or something.”
“Oh, right. I was too careless. Let me see. Where did I put my wallet….”
Arna immediately started searching her pockets as Shin Yoonseong had instructed. She was genuinely looking for her wallet.
“Hey… I’m Kang Taehoon from Kang Yoon Group… Do you think I’m doing this just to collect a measly taxi fare right now?”
“How much is the basic taxi fare these days? Mr. Kang Taehoon, where is your house?”
“For heaven’s sake, listen to what people are sayingggg…!”
Daring to take out his wallet in front of Kang Taehoon? Showing off his wealth in front of someone from the powerful Kang Yoon family? Is he intentionally doing this?
“It seems like that guy is reluctant to part ways like this and wants to have a meal with us.”
“We don’t need thattt…!”
“Oh, is that so? What should we do then? I had lunch earlier. Shall we go eat some simple street food? Do you like spicy rice cakes by any chance?”
“I don’t need it, you bratsgggg…!”
Treating Kang Taehoon to spicy rice cakes. Food that even commoners eat. And adding insult to injury by being generous?
These guys are completely out of their minds.
This won’t do. Kang Taehoon’s true character needs to be shown clearly in this situation.
“Hey, you guys… watch closely…. See how someone from the mighty Kang Yoon Group lives in their everyday life.”
Beep.
Kang Taehoon raised his smartphone and made a call somewhere.
And a moment later.
Vroom─!
A limousine entered the school grounds. It hadn’t been long since he called, and it appeared right in front of Kang Taehoon.
“Wow… a limousine… I’ve never seen such a big one before….”
“hehehehe.”
Now she seemed to truly realize the power and status of this person. Looking into those sparkling eyes, it was genuinely pitiful and unmatched.
Even if he’s the top student in the class, he probably hasn’t experienced something like this.
But this is not the end here.
“What? Tteokbokki? Are you going to eat street food like that when we have a hotel restaurant in our family?”
Clank─!
The waiting limousine driver opened the rear door. Following suit, Kang Tae-hoon confidently entered the limousine.
“hahahaha. Spend your whole life riding taxis and eating tteokbokki. I’m heading straight to the hotel restaurant now.”
Vroom─
The limousine began to move. As the car moved, the eyes of students naturally followed the limousine. They are gazing at Kang Tae-hoon with admiration.
Thrilling. Receiving those eyes all at once, it feels like the accumulated thirst is being relieved.
Now, finally, he starts to feel a bit more at ease.
“….”
But.
Why is he casually riding a limousine right now?
He’s sure there was something specific to discuss with Arna…
“Ah…!”
Right!
The evaluation match!
Damn it! He fell for their prank!
Those scammers, like a couple!
***
Getting a sucker punch from Arna, his hospitalization period extended for no reason.
Damn breast-sucking monster. Stop it.
Still, it’s fortunate that he learned the whole story of the incident.
There was a reason why Arna left in such a huff. It was because of the rumors circulating on campus.
It was a ridiculous rumor. That Arna and I had a scandal. Moreover, the reason I was hospitalized was supposedly because of getting involved with Arna in bed. Who the hell spreads such nonsense.
People who believe it straightforwardly are a real problem. How could I date Arna? Considering the things I’ve done to Arna until now.
I guess I need to raise the intensity a bit more. I’ll have to torment Arna even more maliciously in the future. Then people won’t misunderstand anymore.
Anyway.
Afterward, correcting the rumors wasn’t that difficult. There were people who witnessed me slightly hurting my waist during training, so based on their statements, the rumors could be easily rectified.
Grrr─
“….”
That being said.
When will my midnight snack arrive?
Certainly, there was an arrangement with Chae Soeun. She was supposed to bring lunchboxes every night.
However, no matter how many hours I waited, the lunchbox never came. I starved until dinner just to eat that one thing.
Should I contact her? Ask when she’ll bring it?
Ring─
The door to the hospital room opened just then. Has the meal finally arrived?
“Hmm? You’re definitely…”
But the person entering the room wasn’t Chae Soeun. It was the junior who always stuck to Chae Soeun like a piece of gum.
The junior, holding a lunchbox bag, spoke to me.
“Senior is busy with work right now. I came to deliver it instead.”
“Is that so? I guess it can’t be helped.”
I quickly set up the side table next to the bed. I also prepared a spoon.
“Here.”
The junior handed me the lunchbox bag with a bright smile.
I wonder what menu she prepared for today. I can’t tell just by smelling it. There wasn’t any warmth coming from the bag, as if the food had cooled down.
Well, it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t have to be warm rice. If it’s Chae Soeun’s food, it’ll surely be delicious even if it’s cold.
Suppressing the saliva that was about to burst out, I slowly opened the lunchbox lid.
Clank─
“Huh?”
However.
Unlike my expectations.
There was no food in the lunchbox. The same was true for the other lunchbox containers.
I looked at the junior once, wondering if she had brought the wrong one. But the junior just smiled innocently.
Judging by her expression, it didn’t seem like she brought the wrong one….
“….”
Could this be an empty threat….
Is she telling me to die….