Chapter 3: Cause of Death

Chapter 3: Cause of Death

Morning dawned again at the New Light Spring Orphanage.

The children woke up at 7 a.m., swiftly folded their blankets,

gathered in the dining hall to quickly eat their meals,

and briskly dressed in their school uniforms, ready to head to school.

It was the start of another peaceful day.

There was a bit of a commotion last night due to a surprise inspection in the high school section, where a few students were caught with condoms and cell phones, but this was still considered relatively peaceful.

Whats a condom?

I dont know.This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

Moon In-seop, a fifth grader in primary school, didnt know about such things.

EP 1 Cause of Death

Moon In-seop, a fifth grader, went to school.

Right upon arriving, it was the winter vacation ceremony.

It made sense, being the day after Christmas.

Adapting to school life seemed difficult, but luckily I managed. I couldnt even remember where my seat was

Fortunately, thanks to the notes my friends kindly left on my desk, I quickly found my place.

The notes read:

[Mom in America]

[MD]

[Seop-Seop misses you]

[Miss Seop-Seop]

Ah, right.

I was bullied.

TL Note:

Above is basically

[Mom in America]

[MD]

[Disappointment misses you]

[Miss Disappointment]

Also if you wondering [MD] here is Mother Death aka Motherless

* * *

Mun Chung-jae, the director of New Light Spring Orphanage, held the ideology of raising the children as his own.

Therefore, he bestowed the Mun family surname and generational name to those children he could name.

The problem was that the generational name was Seop.

Seop was a word too old-fashioned for the MZ Generation.

Thus, at school, I became known as Seop-seop.

I dont even want to think about how I was treated when the catchphrase Feeling Seop-Seop from a famous drama became popular. (TL: (Seop-Seop) is a slang to express disappointment or sadness)

Of course, the real reason those kids bullied me wasnt my name, but the fact that I was from an orphanage

Anyway, I intensely disliked the character Seop.

Ah- its winter vacation now? Is Seop-seop going to be sad that he wont be seeing us anymore?

Are you happy that you wont see us?

It would be fucking hilarious if we end up in the same class next year.

A child without parents is unprotected.

The unprotected are weak, and the weak are despised. Its a law of nature known even to beasts. Humans, being animals, have followed this for thousands of years.

However, this traditional perception isnt the sole reason orphans are ostracized.

Children from the orphanage know they are likely to be victims of bullying.

They also know from experience that adults wont take their side.

Therefore, orphans protect themselves.

Whether its themselves or others.

Their means is usually violence.

This is why most parents advise their children to not associate with that child.

Anyway.

If a kid from the same orphanage gets insulted and beaten up, rushing over in a group to beat the offender was considered a code of honor among fellow orphans.

This was our social safety net.

But I was a child outside that safety net.

If you boil it down, I was just incredibly unlucky.

When drawing lots for primary school assignments, I was the only one unlucky enough to end up at a distant school.

I could have asked for help, which might have improved the situation, but as a natural loner with a slightly sensitive disposition, I lacked the confidence to actively seek help from adults. I was embarrassed about being bullied and, after being rejected once when I finally mustered the courage to ask for help, I never spoke up again.

Also, being introverted, instead of confronting and asking Why are you bullying me? This is wrong., I spent my childhood saying Im so pitiful. So lonely.

In fact, the problem could have been easily resolved with the help of the education authorities or human rights groups. (School police officers are friends with the teachers, so they cant be trusted.)

But an opportunity to correct that mistake came.

I decided to take action immediately.

The padded jacket-wearing bullies, ABC, were my target.

Guys. Its not good to bully people like this. I have feelings too. Wont you stop these mean pranks?

To my firm reprimand, the trio of bullies in padded jackets were taken aback and fell silent.

The leader of the group, wearing a red padded jacket, pondered for a moment before replying.

Who cares?

What?

Who cares your mom?

Seeing my dumbfounded expression, the kids in blue and white padded jackets, who seemed to be his left and right-hand men, burst into laughter.

Hahaha-!

Hey! Crazy! Dont make mother jokes about someone who doesnt have one!

What are you talking about? He said Who cares TV.

Oh, then its cool. Agreed?

Yeah, agreed.

The three kids, dressed in red, blue, and white jackets, repeated Who cares your mom?, pronouncing it so quickly that it sounded like Who cares TV.

(TL: TV is a korean slang and using in settings like above)

Who cares your mom, Who cares your mom, Who cares your mom

Overwhelmed by their chant, I lost my mind.

School violence in middle school is brutal, in high school its dark, but in primary school, its overtly blatant due to lack of social experience.

Not knowing how to respond, I stood there stunned, and the kid in the red jacket cackled at me.

Ah- Is Seop-seop feeling upset?

Hes sulking. Hes sulking.

Is Seop-seop sulking? Sulking?

And then,

a punch suddenly flew in and struck me in the solar plexus.

Ugh!

Is Seop-seop upset?

Dont pretend it hurts! Idiot!

As I lay on the ground, clutching my stomach and writhing like a caterpillar, they surrounded me and laughed.

Thats when I realized that no matter what I said, these kids wouldnt listen.

Luckily, it was still before the first period. The homeroom teacher should be in the staff room.

I quickly ran from the classroom to the staff room.

I immediately spotted the homeroom teacher, looking tired and tapping on a computer keyboard.

I had forgotten his name, but I vaguely remembered his face. I think he was the English teacher.

Teacher.

Oh. In-seop? What is it?

I got beaten up by some kids in my class.

Ah.

The homeroom teacher looked more like a government official who had received a complicated complaint rather than being shocked.

It was more of a feeling of inconvenience than annoyance.

He sighed my name.

In-seop.

Yes, Teacher.

Well. Ill talk about it during the morning assembly. For now, go back to class.

Yes?

Well have a counseling session after school.

Lets see.

The homeroom teacher had proposed a concrete solution to the complaint.

He decided to announce a ban on school violence in a school-wide notice, and offered to counsel me later.

Had I been younger, I would have accepted his words and returned to class.

What would follow was predictable.

First, the homeroom teacher will sternly admonish during the morning assembly, saying, I heard theres been school violence in the class recently. If anyone is caught, they will be severely reprimanded, so everyone should get along well.

After that, he will leave to teach another class, and I will probably be called names like snitcher and getting beaten until the end of school today.

And after school, the teacher, claiming to be suddenly busy, would postpone the counseling session until after the winter break.

And if he dragged it out a bit longer, the students would become sixth graders, and the teacher would be free of any responsibility.

Good heavens.

What kind of hell was South Korea 10 years ago?

Teacher, it wasnt just a light hit among kids, I was seriously beaten. I was also verbally abused. You know about my family situation.

Yes, In-seop. I understand. Ill talk to them sternly.

Are you not going to convene the School Violence Committee?

What? The committee? Lets talk about that after our counseling session.

Ah, now I understand the homeroom teachers mindset.

I know the teachers in South Korea have it tough, with the declining authority and the stress it brings.

But I have rights too.

If they keep ignoring my rights, I have no choice but to become a bully myself.

Ah, homeroom teacher-!!!

Yes, hyung.

Hyung my ass. What are we, gangsters?

No, hyung.

* * *

Ma Ki-hoon took me, drained of energy, to a park where a cool breeze was blowing.

He sat me down on a park bench.

Just sit here for a bit.

Yes, hyung.

Damn it, if you call me hyung one more time

I wont, hyung.

Ma Ki-hoon left me alone in the park and went somewhere.

He returned with two Bibibig Ice Creams.

(TL: Bibibig Ice Cream)

Here.

You shouldve brought Hodu-maru.

(TL: Hodu-maru Ice Cream)

Damn it.

Ma Ki-hoon chuckled and hit the back of my head.

I unwrapped the Bibibig and put it in my mouth.

It felt somewhat refreshing.

Did you get hit a lot?

No, not really.

Looks like you did though?

How much can you get hurt in a fight among primary school kids?

Fight? You were just getting beaten up one-sidedly. You should exercise more, kid.

The sky was slowly turning crimson.

A few pigeons in the park soared up towards the red sunset.

And then they disappeared into the sunset-soaked clouds.

The old streetlights in the downtown area flickered on.

How did you come to know?

The orphanage called. Said you got beaten up at school.

Really?

Room Teacher said your homeroom teacher thinks you seem emotionally unstable.

So you came to meet me because of that?

Not just that. I had a hunch. Felt like you stirred up some trouble at school today.

Trouble, huh.

If trouble means a situation that deviates from whats intended, then I certainly caused a big one.

My plan for today was to use the brilliant intellect of a 22-year-old adult man to effortlessly deflect any issues with fifth graders and foster a positive academic atmosphere.

But returning to my school life turned out to be harder than I expected.

The unrefined malice of children was harsher than I thought, and the refined conscience of adults was duller than I expected.

How did the past me endure such a life?

I couldnt help but say,

Wow. Kids these days are harsher than I thought.

Hearing this, Ma Ki-hoon burst into insane laughter.

Hahaha! You saying that? Kids these days, fuck. A kid from these days talking about kids from these days, haha!

Ma Ki-hoon laughed heartily for a while before calming down.

Then he looked at me with a pitying gaze.

Im sorry, my brother.

For what?

For yesterday. When you forgot the Christmas dance routine, I scolded you without asking if you were alright or if something was bothering you.

Oh, that?

Yeah.

I didnt realize it when I was younger, but Ma Ki-hoon seemed to have a stronger sense of responsibility than I thought.

Its remarkable for a mere high school sophomore to take such care of other kids who arent even his blood relatives.

Kids these days really grow up fast.

Well, its fine. Its not your fault. Its hard to pinpoint whos responsible when orphans are getting beaten up. Its just the world thats a bit weird.

Damn, kid, youre good with words. Are you in liberal arts?

Dont think too much. You have your own life to live If I were in your shoes, I think it would have been tough for me too.

What? Life? Yeah, right.

Ma Ki-hoon suddenly pulled out a cigarette from his pocket.

Then he placed it in his mouth and lit it with a lighter he took out as well.

I watched him, a bit taken aback.

Arent you going to ask if its okay to smoke?

Phew. Life. Fuck.

Seeing me awkwardly looking at his cigarette, Ma Ki-hoon laughed and patted me on the back.

Then he looked up at the sunset-filled sky and yelled,

Ah, fuck! Moon In-seop! In-seop!

What?

In-seop! The one who ate his poop in diapers!

I told you I dont remember any of that, it happened when I was a baby.

Wow, our In-seop has grown into an old soul, able to converse with me like this.

Ma Ki-hoons cigarette smoke spiraled up towards the sunset.

He lamented as he watched the days sun set.

It was as if he was afraid of the passing of each day,

like a child scared of the coming of tomorrow.

Ah, fuck, time feels like its going too fast.

Why?

The newborn who used to munch on diaper poop is now old enough to talk about life with me.

Ive grown up too.

Life. Damn life. Soon, in a couple of years, Ill have to leave the orphanage and start living my own life.

It seemed that life was a scary concept for Ma Ki-hoon, a high school sophomore.

Ah, fuck. What should I do? What am I going to do after graduation, damn it.

He muttered to himself for a long time, as if entranced by the word life.

Unintentionally stirring up the trauma of a young man, I, as a 22-year-old adult with ten years more experience, offered some advice, sprinkling in a bit of knowledge from my time-traveling experience.

I saw on the internet. Theres talk about changing the law. So that you can stay in the orphanage until youre 24.

Really?!

It looks like that change will happen soon. Also, orphans leaving the orphanage get preferential treatment for public housing applications, so make sure to look into that and find a place. If you cant get that, youll have no choice but to go to a gosiwon. (TL: Gosiwon are single room for rent mostly rented by students in south korea)

Whats an application?

Oh boy. Ill explain it, so listen carefully.

We spent a long time in the park, talking about various things.

By the time we decided to leave, the sunset had faded, and the sky had turned dark.

Ma Ki-hoons cigarette had almost completely burned down.

Brrr. Its cold. Lets go in.

Ma Ki-hoon stood up, shivering in the night air, but I still had something nagging at me.

Hyung, what about the kids you hit? What are you going to do?

What about them?

Dont you have to do something?

Eh, fuck, its fine. Ill handle it.

How are you going to handle it?

There are ways. Dont worry about it.

Ma Ki-hoon seemed to be saying anything to change the subject.

He offered me the last bit of his cigarette.

Do you want a puff?

What?

Ah, just kidding, just kidding.

But I wasnt planning to let it end as a joke.

Like a cat pouncing on its prey, I quickly snatched the cigarette.

Puff!

Whoa! Fuck!

Cough! Cough!

Hey, you crazy kid!

Wait, just one more puff.

Youre nuts! Give that back right now!

And thats how we went back home.

Although when I think about it, it wasnt really home.

* * *

Non-interference pact between government and martial arts.

An old rule stating that the government and the martial arts world do not interfere in each others affairs.

How could mere minions disrupt the hidden pacts of the martial arts world and interfere with the actions of a swordsman?

But in an era where righteousness and duty have fallen by the wayside, the old rules no longer held any meaning.

Where is student Ma Ki-hoon! Call him here right now!

Teacher, please calm down.

Calm down? How can I be calm at a time like this?!

The officials had begun to chase after the martial artists