The Tough Guy Hides the Villainess

Chapter 6

006 – When Cornered, Take Off Your Pants

“It’s like a complete Colosseum.”

Standing in the middle of the desks arranged in a circle, I felt like a Roman gladiator.

In fact, the eyes of the kids sitting in a circle resembled the interest of spectators watching a famous gladiator in a movie.

The slightly uncomfortable point was that the girls’ gazes were not directed at me but at the class president.

Class president Jeong Uiseon looked around as if he was used to it and stood leisurely in his place.

“If it’s about the death penalty, the ‘retention’ side seems to have to make more sensitive claims. Since I can’t make Hanamjin, who just transferred, do that, I’ll take the ‘retention of the death penalty’ side “Is that okay?”

It was quite considerate of him to say he would bear the cross of a sensitive topic himself.

Are you that confident?

You said you prepared for the English high school entrance exam, so you must be used to debates.

“Alright. Then I’ll take the abolition side. Don’t say anything different later.”

I nodded because I was not one to refuse a favor.

Starting from a good position to earn points? There was no reason to refuse since it could lead to meeting Seo Ga-eul.

“Then I’ll start. First of all, there are currently 35 countries that constitutionally maintain the death penalty. Among these countries, the well-known advanced nations are the United States and Japan─.”

Class president Jeong Eui-seon continued speaking without hesitation, looking around.

Honestly, I was surprised.

Why does a high school student know how many countries maintain the death penalty?

“Four out of ten violent criminals commit violent crimes again. This means that every time they are simply imprisoned and released, at least four innocent people emerge.”

Even if I didn’t know the content, his voice had a definite power, and there was a charisma that captivated the audience.

I expected him to have something impressive since he was the class president even in this special class, and indeed, he was excellent. Does he have a concept related to ‘eloquence’?

“Also, considering that the tax to manage and monitor a heinous criminal amounts to 80 million won per year, we can’t ignore the financial issue.”

Money issues.

Whether it touched the hearts of the children, sighs of “huh” spread here and there.

Not good.

If this continues, there might be fewer kids who vote for my opinion during the final vote!

“So, should we maintain the death penalty because of money issues?”

Do we kill people because of money-.

At my cold question, the class president closed his mouth for a moment and looked around.

“It’s not just because of money. Haven’t you heard this? For victims who have suffered terrible things, the best thing the perpetrator can do is disappear from the world.”

“There was such a saying.”

“Some people don’t even want a sincere apology from the perpetrator. They just want them to disappear from their sight and from the world. Do you know the Kim Gwang-ji case from a year ago?”

“…….”

“The case where the child s*x offender Kim Gwang-ji, who was released after serving a 15-year sentence, was stabbed in the heart by an unknown assailant. When this happened, people cheered.”

I knew about that case too.

A righteous judge who punished a heinous criminal released by the judicial system-. The world was noisy with that feeling.

Moreover, the ‘judge’ started serially killing criminals like Kim Gwang-ji and even challenged the police as if provoking the existing judicial system, so it was impossible not to know.

“There are research results showing that the more cruelly criminals are punished by this ‘judge,’ the lower the crime rate. I see this judge’s actions as equivalent to the death penalty. It instills fear.”

“I did hear that criminals became more docile when news of the resumption of executions spread.”

“Even the death row inmates who were arrogant in prison have become docile.”

I could feel the public sentiment leaning more towards Jeong Eui-seon.

With my keen senses, I could tell that nearly twenty out of the twenty-eight young guests in this place seemed to agree with the class president’s opinion.

Honestly, in this age of dopamine addiction, how could I argue against the example of a monster who makes people feel exhilarated by killing heinous criminals?

If I say, “But murder is bad, for any reason!” here, I would only come across as a principled and old-fashioned person to these high school seniors who love stimulation.

So here’s the kick.

“Isn’t the death penalty too simple?”

# # #

There is an expression, “chef’s kick.” It’s like the chef’s special move that defines the identity of the dish.

A kick that no one else could think of.

I, Hanamjin of the leap, who is confident in my leg strength, also have a kick.

“The death penalty is too simple a solution, which is why it causes problems. Do you think the 106 countries that have abolished the death penalty are just stupid and sentimental for keeping criminals alive?”

“Simple? I’m interested in why you think that way. Can you tell me more?”

To be honest, I thought heinous criminals deserved to die.

But just ‘killing them to end it’ is too simple.

“I believe everyone deserves a second chance. Even if they look like trash, they can become wonderful recyclables depending on how they are used.”

I deeply respected Seo Ga-eul, who gave me a new chance at life when I was rolling around in a shantytown.

The lifeline of my life. The goddess of fortune who gave me a second chance.

In a way, this debate was my confession to her.

“Recycle?”

“What is he trying to say?”

When everyone’s faces showed anticipation at my heartfelt appeal, I opened my mouth to deliver the decisive kick.

“So we give criminals a second chance. We build a beryllium factory with severe radiation leaks on an uninhabited island and use them as labor!”

“…Labor?”

“…What…!?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Or we leave only the minimum necessary parts for survival and have them donate their organs to sick people. And we regularly draw their blood to help with the blood donation shortage-.”

The economic effect of one person’s body.

At least 200 million.

I knew this better than anyone, having been pressured by loan sharks to sell my organs.

“If we just execute him, that’s 200 million won gone! 200 million! Do you know how many packs of ramen that is? According to UNICEF, it can provide vaccines to 3,960,000 people!”

An emotional appeal to the surroundings and a realistic monetary gain!

A strange expression began to spread across the face of the class president, who was my debate opponent, and the other students seemed bewildered, staring blankly at each other.

「Name: Geum Taeseong」

Status: 《Shock》 – Unable to hide his surprise at an opinion he never expected!”

「Name: Cheon Yura」

Status: 《Disbelief》 – Doubting her ears at such a radical opinion.」

Good, just as I expected, their minds are full of gaps.

Now, I’ll bring out my secret weapon!

“Everyone, please, just give me one vote. Just one vote! I want to earn points too! I’ll even take off my pants right here! Please see my sincerity!”

# # #

“The voting results are in. Uiseon has received 19 votes. Let’s give a round of applause.”

Clap clap clap-.

Following the teacher’s words, the students clapped.

The class president received 19 votes. With 30 students in Class D, he had more than half.

“It seems the kids are closer to me, so they voted for me. Still, saving 4 million lives with one death row inmate. Your perspective is quite novel.”

The class president extended his hand to me, revealing his white teeth in a smile. He was really handsome. Good personality, good speaker, he and I were indeed of the same kind.

“If I could have taken off my pants, I would have gotten 10 more votes. What a shame.”

I guarantee, if I could have shown everyone my ‘sincerity’ inside my pants, no one would know how the voting results would have turned out.

It was truly regrettable that my final secret weapon was stopped by the teacher.

So my vote count is…

“Teacher, 11 votes mean 110,000 points, right? You said you’d give 10,000 points per vote, didn’t you?”

I was able to earn 110,000 won just from a simple debate!

Honestly, I thought it would be a success if I got just 5 votes, but getting 11 votes is a huge success!

“My goodness, Han Namjin, you’re quite a talented guy to get 11 votes with such a ridiculous opinion!”

That’s right.

11 votes!

If I count one vote as mine, whose are the remaining 10?

As I returned to my original seat, still curious, Baek Yeoul, her face flushed red, looked at me as if she had a lot to say, her lips moving slightly.

“Hey! I was so embarrassed! What kind of debate was that? Why did you take off your pants!”

「Name: Baek Yeoul」

「Status: 《Over-Immersed》 – Having experienced great embarrassment in front of people, they deeply empathize with your situation.」

“Hey, did you vote for me?”

“…I’m not ‘Hey’!”

Baek Yeoul whispered softly.

The guy snorted and added.

“I was worried you wouldn’t get a single vote if I didn’t vote for you. Do you know how embarrassing and humiliating that is? You’d kick your blanket every night thinking about it.”

“Have you ever experienced that? “What was the topic then?”

“… Ugh… .”

Baek Yeoul, with a face flushed red, glared at me.

It seemed like a memory they didn’t want to recall had flashed back.

But, it doesn’t matter!

The important thing is that I’ve earned 110,000 points!

“Hey, with 110,000 points, can I attend the same special class or whatever with Seo Ga-eul?”

“I’m not ‘Hey’! And how can you attend a special class with just 110,000 points? If you really want to meet Seo Ga-eul, go to ‘Noble’ during lunch today.”

“Noble?”

“Here at Yeongsa High, even the meals are tiered. Noble is like a high-end restaurant where you pay 50,000 points for a meal ticket. Michelin-starred chefs cook there, and the pudding is especially delicious!”

Spending 50,000 won on a meal?

Honestly, it seemed crazy, but if I could meet Seo Ga-eul there, if I could get ‘soft and tender’ twice from him, it seemed like a worthwhile investment.

Seo Ga-eul, my light.

Seo Ga-eul. Me.

From now on, Seo Ga-eul and I will become one, beyond a mere support relationship.

Fusion.

Hehehe-.

While I was loosening my lips with various happy thoughts, Baek Yeoul poked my side.

“Why are you so eager to meet Seo Ga-eul? Do you like him?”

“Yes.”

“… What… .”

At my unhesitant answer, Baek Yeoul’s expression became very serious, and they let out a suspiciously long sigh.

“Phew, I don’t know what you like about him, but he’s not the kind of person you think he is, so don’t get your hopes up too much. You asked about my debate earlier, right?”

“That’s right.”

“My debate opponent was Seo Ga-eul. In the first year, I was in the same class as him. Because of him, I…”

“Hey! Nam-jin! You’re funny! I’ve never seen anyone debate like you!”

Pop-.

At that moment, someone approached and grabbed my shoulder.

He was a tall boy with a scar on his eyebrow, looking like a mischievous delinquent.

He seemed like someone who would be good at riding a motorcycle.

From noble mtl dot com

“Let’s go have lunch together! I’ll guide you to the cafeteria! Oh, by the way, my name is Geum Tae-seong.”

He was sociable to the max.

However, Baek Yeoul, who was about to say something, was overwhelmed by the presence of this boy and buried her face in the desk.

It was lunchtime, but she didn’t seem to have any appetite.