The Tough Guy Hides the Villainess

021 – Aim for the Scorpion Sidrome # 1

021 – Aim for the Scorpion Sidrome #1

The community service “Picking Up Trash” has ended.

Not long ago, I had lived in a trash heap, so picking up the junk scattered on the ground didn’t even feel like labor.

Before I knew it, it was 5 PM, and it was about time to head home.

I was worried about Seo Ga-eul, who had been left in the next room since morning. I had tied her up tightly with chains and such, but I couldn’t help but think what if she managed to escape with her superhuman strength.

Honestly, I felt so uneasy that I couldn’t focus on anything.

What if I installed something like a “home cam”? You know, those cameras that single women who raise dogs in their apartments set up to keep an eye on their pets while they’re at work.

If I installed something like that in Seo Ga-eul’s basement and checked in on her through my phone, it would create a real-time surveillance system.

I’m a genius after all! The smartest middle school dropout in the world!

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

Thud-.

At that moment, someone tapped my shoulder.

When I turned my head, Yeo-reum Yoo, holding a cold drink can in each hand, offered me one.

Sss-.

A refreshing carbonated drink after labor-. It reminded me of the lengths I went to drink this cola in a world that had perished.

I felt like crying. No, I was already crying!

Drip, drip-!

“…Is it so delicious that you’re crying? You’re a bit strange. Was it that shocking that Seo-ga Eul didn’t come to school because she was sick? Or were you always a weird person?”

Yeo-reum Yoo looked at me as if she was flustered.

For a moment, I felt a chill down my spine.

I didn’t know why Seo-ga Eul was treated as “sick leave” instead of missing, but I didn’t know how long that “sick leave” would last.

Eventually, an investigation into Seo-ga Eul’s disappearance would begin. If I acted suspiciously then, I would be caught in many ways.

Damn it!

I was angry. That meant I had to attend this ridiculous high school anymore? Imagine if I suddenly dropped out or skipped school after Seo-ga Eul went missing.

It would be perfect for suspicion.

Therefore, I had to maintain a peaceful daily life, at least on the surface.

While I was thinking that, Yeo-reum Yoo crushed the can and threw it into a nearby trash can, then pointed to the kids in the distance.

“Your friends seem to be waiting for you. Then I’ll go first.”

Tap, tap-.

Yeo-reum Yoo disappeared, running lightly like a feather.

Instead, Tae-seong Geum, Chang-sik Choi, Yeoul Baek, and Deok-soon Oh approached me in a group.

“Nam-jin, why don’t you check Kotok? We’re planning a strategy for tomorrow’s group practice at Chang-sik’s house today. You’re our leader.”

At Tae-seong Geum’s question, I recalled today’s lesson. The captain seemed to have said, “There will be another group practice tomorrow, so prepare well.”

“Are we going to Chang-sik’s house today?”

“Indeed! My friend! I hope you will come to my house!”

Why today of all days!

I needed to go home and check on Seo-ga Eul, but today of all days, Chang-sik invited me to his house.

I could refuse, but seeing everyone’s eyes, it didn’t seem like the right atmosphere.

“Let’s go! Let’s go!”

Although it wasn’t quite as bad as my neighborhood, Chang-sik’s house was also in a fairly run-down area. The difference was that it had the smell of people living there.

It felt like a cozy hillside village.

I especially liked that there were many cat mom’s bowls and many cats. The people in this neighborhood won’t go hungry later.

“This is our house.”

“Choi Kang Resources.”

In short, Chang-sik’s house was a junkyard. Various waste materials, including scrap paper and glass bottles, were piled up and organized in a fairly large yard, and everyone seemed busy admiring it with their mouths agape.

“…It might feel a bit messy…”

Chang-sik blushed as if he was ashamed of his house.

As he scratched his nose and observed everyone’s expressions, I was honestly very impressed.

“It’s a complete treasure mountain!”

To think they collected so many recyclables. Even the quality of these items was so good that it felt wasteful to call them junk.

It felt like they could be used in various places right away.

“Chang-sik, did you collect all this?”

“No. Most of it was collected by my father…”

“Your father has an amazing eye for things.”

“Really? Honestly, it’s the first time I’ve heard that. Because… it’s a junkyard. It’s hard to say it proudly anywhere. But…”

Swoosh.

Chang-sik looked at me.

“My friend, seeing you makes me think I’m quite happy. You could say I’ve gained courage. Anyway, come inside. It might be more of a mess inside!”

Creak.

As we opened the sliding door and entered the house, we saw a fairly large house filled with countless items. Most of them were—

“Bottle caps!”

To be precise, crown caps.

Like beer bottle caps.

They were piled up like treasures, and I was so happy that I felt like foam would come out of my mouth.

So many bottle caps? With this many, I could live like a rich man even in a post-apocalyptic world! Even Jack Sparrow, who found a chest of gold coins, wouldn’t be happier than I am now!

“Chang-sik! What is all this?”

“Collecting bottle caps is also my father’s hobby. Every drawer in the house is filled with bottle caps. Honestly, I hated my father for that. I hated bottle caps.”

Swoosh.

Chang-sik picked up a bottle cap rolling around the house.

And then, with a puff of breath, he turned it into a coin-sized chocolate.

“I’ve been teased more than once because of this house full of trash. So I thought, what if these bottle caps were real money instead? Or if they were something else—.”

“Is that what motivated your awakening?”

When Kim Taesung, who was examining the bottle caps, asked, Choi Changshik nodded.

Wishing fervently that the house full of bottle caps were something else, Choi Changshik acquired the concept of “transformation” and became a candy man who could create infinite candy.

From noble mtl dot com

He could even make chocolate out of bottle caps!

In terms of sheer importance, he could be considered the next most significant awakened one after Seo Gaul!

“Changshik, let’s stay close friends. Don’t forget me even when you succeed.”

“…I don’t think I could forget you and your tiger-patterned underwear even if I wanted to. By the way, there’s a mini car track here! The mini car you gave me as a gift last time is here— .”

“Changshik, do you have any CCTV or home cams?”

“If it’s something like that, there should be a few in the camera area. Do you need them?”

“I think cat moms keep scattering cat food in my yard when I’m not around, so I’d like to monitor it. While you’re at it, give me a fly swatter to chase the cats away.”

As evening approached, Changshik and I were boiling ramen and having various conversations when Changshik seemed to have something he was curious about.

“Friend, you had two concepts, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Honestly, isn’t it difficult to acquire even one concept? So I’m curious how you came to have both ‘leap’ and ’emotion.’ If it’s not too much to ask, could you tell me?”

“Me?”

It was hard to explain “emotion” since I received it from Seo Gaul, but I could easily explain “leap.”

Though it wasn’t something to brag about.

“About two years ago, there was a fire at a large shopping mall.”

“Are you talking about the N-Mart incident where a crazy awakened arsonist set the fire?”

“Yes. I was on the first floor of N-Mart at the time, but my mom and dad were on the fourth floor. Because of the raging flames, both the elevator and the stairs were cut off, so there was no way to “Go up or down.”

That was the end of my explanation.

Choi Changshik, with a variety of expressions as if deep in thought, soon became very somber and put his hand on my back.

“Friend, I’m deeply sorry about your parents. If I had known it would bring up such a story, I wouldn’t have asked.”

“It’s okay. It’s been a long time, so it doesn’t bother me anymore. By the way, don’t you think we should add more ssamjang and ketchup to the ramen?”

“No, no matter what, that’s a bit… .”

We enjoyed our dinner together.

However, Baek Yeoul seemed to be dissatisfied with something.

“Something is missing from the ramen’s taste today.”

See, I told you we were short on ssamjang and ketchup.

With that feeling, it soon became late afternoon. In the end, we didn’t discuss any strategies for tomorrow’s group project because we were too busy chatting.

“Then I’ll head home first since I live in the same direction as Deokhee.”

“……”

Geum Taeseong, who had been unusually quiet today, disappeared in the same direction as the introverted girl Deoksun. Watching them, Baek Yeoul said to me,

“Don’t you think those two are suspicious?”

“You’re the most suspicious one. How can a person’s hair be pink?”

“I’m not joking! I think Deokhee likes Taeseong. Do you think we could support or help them?”

Students at this age liked to link anything between boys and girls to a romantic relationship. Maybe it was because she dyed her hair pink, but Bbangdaengi’s head seemed to be filled with pink vibes.

“Bbangdaengi, can you help me with my relationship with Seo Gaeul?”

“……”

Squeak-.

Baek Yeoul frowned.

It seemed like her ‘autumn allergy’ would last a long time.

“I’m leaving too!”

Baek Yeoul, who seemed to have suddenly gotten into a bad mood, eventually disappeared around the corner.

Now, I was the only one left.

I waited until I couldn’t feel anyone’s presence, then quickly ran home. To be precise, I arrived at the basement of the house next door.

# # #

Clang, creak-. Thud-.

When I opened the basement door and turned on the light bulb, I saw Seo Gaeul lying quietly in the dark basement.

You didn’t run away!

That sense of relief filled my chest with a strange exhilaration at the same time.

The feeling that only I in the world was secretly raising a Pokémon? I don’t know, it was hard to explain since it was the first time I felt this way in my life.

Anyway, the fact that I came home and Seo Gaeul was there─that alone excited me.

“We’re just like newlyweds, aren’t we?”

“……”

Of course, Seo Gaeul didn’t say a word as she looked at me.

Just staring with a terrifying look.

“You didn’t even drink water?”

Even Seo Ga-eul didn’t touch the water bottle I left behind.

You must be quite thirsty. And hungry too.

Awakened ones have a more active metabolism than ordinary people, so they burn more than twice the calories, making it painful to starve.

Yet, you didn’t even take a sip of water. How stubborn are you?

This isn’t good. I have a duty to keep Seo Ga-eul in good condition.

First, let’s install the home cam I retrieved from Chang-sik’s house─.

Clatter, clatter.

As I was installing the camera on the ceiling with that feeling, Seo Ga-eul, who had been silent until now, shouted like an angry fox.

“If you install that, I’ll bite my tongue and die.”

“What?”

“If you install the camera, I’ll die.”

It didn’t sound like a simple threat.

This kid would really do it if they said so.

If Seo Ga-eul dies, my ‘soft and tender’ will be gone too. So, I had no choice but to regretfully withdraw the camera installation.

What a shame! From now on, I have to live in anxiety, wondering if Seo Ga-eul has escaped or not.

“My body is your goal, right?”

“What?”

“I thought a lot about why you locked me up today. In the end, it’s my body you want, right? All you men are like that. So why don’t you just do what you want quickly and let me go?”

Seo Ga-eul slightly uncovered the blanket I had covered, revealing white skin. Even though she must have been covered in dust all day, her thighs were like white jade.

I felt good.

Finally, Seo Ga-eul is willing to cooperate with me!

“Ga-eul, then let’s start with push-ups. Let’s start lightly with the first set of 100-.”

“… “What are you trying to do with that?”

“Seoga-eul, you need to value your body more. From now on, every time you try to make such ridiculous temptations, know that it will end up like this! “The whip of love!”

I swung the fly swatter and struck Seoga-eul’s white thigh!

Smack!

“Ahhh! “You crazy b*stard!”