Chapter 141 < Latecomer. (3) >

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Translator: thursdays Editor: Yahiko PR: LightBrin

.

Therefore.

Let us talk about my defeat.

The position of the protagonist.

It is the first time I, who had only played the heros role, became a villain who had to be knocked down.

I had never tolerated a defeat thus far.

Any defeat would have been disastrous.

If I had been defeated, all of Harlem would have been burned to the ground.[1] My defeat meant the fall of the empire. My defeat meant the end of the land of rivers and lakes. And it meant My defeat meant

Now, for the first time, my defeat wouldnt lead to devastation.

This is the story of my downfall.

It is a story that would only end when I am defeated.

[Currently, your immersion rate is 100%.]

My consciousness.

But I am strong.

I am a manipulative and shrewd person.

I dont know how you all will remember your school days. Were you happy? Did you enjoy yourself? The cla.s.sroom, which was small enough to be painted with the excuse of the ignorance of childhood. Are the scenes that occurred there colored with a beautiful sepia filter?

It isnt for me.

I am a little more subtle than you guys. I am cunning. Maybe there was n.o.body like me in your school. Or maybe, you simply dont remember. But I was definitely here.

A person who framed his cla.s.smate.

A person who has plotted and manipulated evidence to slander someone.

A person who intimidated cla.s.smates to keep them quiet.

If you share these memories, you must be my colleague. You, at least, will fathom my existence, and if Im lucky, youll even understand.

Thats right. While the other students were defenselessly playing in their childhood, their so-called [school days], we easily hunted those foolish minnows.

Our hunting was furtive.

Thats why people dont remember.

Most people understand our skillfully hidden hunts the wrong way. Students are too [immature]; theyre not smart enough for high-level hunting.

Not smart enough? Who? Us? What a ridiculous delusion.

They cant even remember what happened under their very noses.

Ill first confess to those people the secret method to hunting.

This is a story that happened before I became possessed.

There are two ways a students rank is decided at school. First, there are the students who study well. But you have to work hard to get good grades. Students hate working hard more than anything.

On the other hand

It is easy to ignore or laugh at others.

It took no effort.

Since mocking someone is effortless, any student can join in. This is the crucial difference between [study] and [ridicule]. Whats the difference? Just a matter of how many students can easily partic.i.p.ate.

You had to study for 10 minutes to raise your score by 1 on an exam, but it took less than 10 seconds to tease someone.

Its much more fun to be [better at making fun of others] than it is to be [better at studying]. Its much easier. Accordingly, it is much more powerful. Unlike studying, anyone can handily jump into the game. That is why [ridicule] is standard at all schools.

Here are the mechanics of bullying.

First, the victim has to be conspicuous.

Are they noticeably richer than the other kids? Or noticeably poorer? Do they have a face that anyone would say is weird? Does it smell strange when they pa.s.s by? Is their speech severely incoherent? Are they overly sincere? All of that is good. The particulars dont matter.

Ridiculing is powerful because its easy.

The victim of the ridicule must be easy to make fun of.

Kim Yul.

There is a good reason why Kim Yul was selected as the prey of the hunt.

Hes poor.

Obviously so.

Hes distinctively poor. Theres a bad smell when he walks around.

Ones poverty could not be covered up with the monotone school uniforms. The awful thing about poverty is that it shows. Everyone could tell that Kim Yul was poor. Anyone who got close knew that he smelled bad.

He is easy for anyone to ridicule.

Hey.

So it is easy to begin.

It might be a bit harsh to say this, but when you go near that guy

Oh, yeah. He did smell a little. Poor guy

Level 1.

Go lightly at first.

You probably know, too, that you shouldnt reveal your hand at the beginning. That would be dumb.

Did he enter on a financial aid?

Ive known Kim Yul since middle school, and even then

Idle talk.

Its enough to use the prey as a simple topic in conversation.

Should I tell you guys a secret? Actually

Gradually increase the number of students who partic.i.p.ate in the small talk.

He lives there? Wow. Thats a literal dump.

I heard his dad is the trash collector.

Huh. Could that be the same guy who picks up the waste at our house?

Hey. No way

Like this, gradually brighten the spotlight on him.

The initiator, here, must be careful to never reveal his malice. Not yet! You know it, too. It isnt time for that yet.

Look.

Isnt Kim Yul kind of annoying?

Instead of saying that, say:

Oh, wow. Its true. The trash collector for our house is Kim Yuls dad!

This is much smarter.

What, really?

Of course, its a lie.

How did you find out?

I was also skeptical at first. But on Sunday, the man came to pick up the trash, so I asked, [Are you Kim Yuls father? Im his school friend]. He acted a little embarra.s.sed, but then he asked me to take care of his son.

Dude

Really?

Lies are the bases of our accomplishments.

Even as they doubted me, my cla.s.smates looked at me with twinkling eyes. Those gazes, that interest, are the proof of your success. Youve succeeded in drawing people to the subject of [Kim Yul].

Kim Yul! By any chance, does your dad

Hey, hey. Why are you asking that? Shut up.

Why not? Did you lie?

No, but anyway. Sorry, Kim Yul. Its nothing.

Level 2.

The observation phase.

Malice s...o...b..a.l.l.s well enough on its own from here.

Pft.

There isnt anyone in the world who does not make mistakes. Students make plenty of them. Now that the cla.s.s is paying attention to Kim Yuls every move, they view his mistakes like they are looking through a magnifying gla.s.s.

Haha

Then, they laugh.

He missed the volleyball in gym cla.s.s and had to run a little farther.

He fell asleep in fourth period and didnt wake up even during lunch.

He stuttered a little when the teacher asked him a question.

Ha

It doesnt matter how trivial the mistake was.

Easy and conspicuous.

Always remember the mechanics of [ridicule].

You know, he always goes behind the school for lunch. Thats

Is he feeding the chickens? Seriously?

Go to the window and look. Im serious.

Something that anyone can see easily.

Something that anyone can partake in easily.

Kim Yul! Look up here!

What, hes really looking here.

Is he trying to get the chickens for free once theyre grown?

Eww.

Eventually, a game that anyone can join in.

You probably know, too, that most bullying ends here.

Up to this point, it can happen naturally. There doesnt need to be a clear ringleader. There doesnt have to be any accomplices. You can get up to [Level 2] with just sympathizers.

Level 2 bullying corresponds to the following:

Mild violence once every two weeks. Group a.s.sault once every three months. A public beating once every six months. One small scar that cannot be removed on the body. If its short, one semester. If its long, three years. Sometimes a few students lead the violence, but there isnt a long-term culprit

But as you probably know.

Hey.

We do not stop there.

Lets test it.

We take one step further.

What?

Look. I bought these shoes, so theyre brand new.

If you have successfully brought others to this point, you must certainly be good at lying. Now, you had to perform a small magic trick for your cla.s.smates.

Ill draw some stars on the sole of the shoes with a marker. See? You guys saw it, right?

Yeah. So what?

Im going to throw it away with trash in front of my house.

What are you talking about?

Idiot. Kim Yuls dad is the waste collector for my house.

Of course, its a lie. The trash collector for your house is not Kim Yuls father, actually. But that doesnt matter. You know what paths Kim Yuls father usually took.

Will that mister give Kim Yul a present if he sees new shoes being thrown out? Why wouldnt he? So, look. If Kim Yuls father really is the trash man, then Kim Yul will wear these shoes tomorrow.

Uh

I guess?

I bet that Kim Yul will come to school wearing these shoes tomorrow.

Now.

Youve privately prepared a second pair of shoes.

There we go. Ill leave it here. You all saw, right? I wont ever touch it.

One pair, you threw out with the trash at your house in front of your friends.

Okay.

The other pair had already been placed on the route Kim Yuls father walked the day before.

Needless to say, both pairs have a on the soles.

You want to show your friends some magic. So, you pretend to draw the in front of them. If youre cautious enough, you can also establish a perfect alibi by hanging out with your friends for the rest of the day.

Hey, check the shoes!

It is lunchtime on the following day. We are in the cla.s.sroom.

What if someone catches us?

Just look quickly!

Were just sneaking a peak. It doesnt matter

While Kim Yul is gone, having headed down to the cafeteria, we gather. Kim Yuls desk. There is a bag holding the shoes hung on the hook.

The students eyes sparkle. Giggling to show that [its only a joke], we lift up Kim Yuls shoe bag. Then, we take out shoes that are cleaner than normal.

Wow.

Naturally.

I-its real!

A is drawn on the bottom of the shoes that Kim Yul brought.

Oh, s.h.i.+t. Then, Kim Yuls wearing what you threw out

You didnt plan this with Kim Yul, did you?

Course not. Hes been with us all day yesterday and today.

Then, its actually

The students look at you. Those eyes have just witnessed a fascinating magic trick. At this point, you can choose from a number of lines. It depends on your personality and preferences. Didnt I tell you I was right? is one of the options. Or, Thats kind of unpleasant. You can slowly reveal your ill will.

Wow.

But I recommend this line.

So its true

Bury yourself in your surroundings.

I mean, that old man could have lied that hes Kim Yuls dad.

Feign ignorance.

So I wasnt 100% sure, either.

Laugh like you dont get it. Check the shoes again, acting like youre seeing something unbelievable. Then, refine your tone like youve realized some new truth.

But wow. To think it was real

And take back one step.

Ah, whatever. I dont know. Im calling off the bet. I dont need it. You guys, just pretend you dont know. This is something between just us. Lets call it quits. Anyway, I dont know.

Inexperienced leaders always try to do everything themselves. As you know, this is stupid and impatient. You feel impatient because you know that the evidence and magic you concocted is sloppy.

Thats why you have to perform the magic perfectly from the beginning.

Whats happening?

Just in time.

The other students return to the cla.s.sroom one by one from lunch.

Hey, Kim Yul is actually

Huh? Tell me, tell me!

Of course, you deliberately set lunchtime as the setting for your magic show. You cant waste your magic during a mere break.

At lunchtime, the cla.s.s returns to the room in twos and threes. There is enough time. Its perfect for whispering about and spreading the event that just happened.

No way.

They look at Kim Yuls shoes.

Thats crazy. Its real?

As if.

You sit in the back row, pretending to be asleep.

Youre cautious.

You can never spread the story yourself. You cant get ahead of yourself. You have the virtue of a lion, which does not monopolize its hunt and shares its prey with its pride.

What are you guys talking about?

Come over here.

What about Kim Yuls shoes?

Let others have the fun of spreading rumors. Plant the illusion that they discovered the truth themselves. Allow them to gorge themselves on the b.l.o.o.d.y chunk of meat.

Ugh. Is he picking up other things and using them, too?

Trust in humanitys malice.

Yeah. Keep it quiet, but Kim Yuls dad is actually the trash collector. We went to the same middle school. We once had to talk about our parents jobs

Trust in the power of ridicule.

Thats pretty nasty

Trust in the magic of .

Wow. Then, is everything he owns recycled?

Its recycled, I tell you.

Pfft.

.

I feel sorry for him, but hes disgusting. Really.

Oh, gross. I can smell his feet. Werent these shoes supposed to be new?

.

Hey, the recycling man is here. Hide it.

.

Kim Yul. Did you come back from feeding the chickens?

Your shoes look pretty clean today!

Heh.

.

?

After school.

You all form a pack and head down to the front gate to go after Kim Yul. Kim Yul tilts his head because he doesnt know the reason, but he doesnt care.

The moment Kim Yul takes his shoes out from the bag and changes

Pfft!

is complete.

Pft, haha

Hey, Kim Yul! That over there

Those are the shoes Eunseo threw away at his house yesterday!

Look at the soles!

The young beasts are immersed in the pleasure of exposing the truth that Kim Yul doesnt know. He is a dirty child. Its pointless even if he denies it. We have evidence.

The truth is that Kim Yuls father found a new pair of shoes and gave them to his son. The truth is, Kim Yuls father picked up the shoes, carefully examined them to see how new they were, and thought it was all right, so he gave them to his son. The truth is, Kim Yul knew everything, but he silently received the gift from his father. His fathers concern, his silent expression, and Kim Yuls muted eyes are the truth.

But beasts didnt have the imagination to think of that.

They didnt even try.

Because ridicule is much easier.

With the proof you fabricated, the beasts easily feasted upon .

Do you have that much free time? Kim Yul said expressionlessly. Is it fun?

He is composed.

If youre bored, do your own thing. Stop bothering others.

Then, he turns his back and leaves.

Uh

The students remain silent for a moment.

If someone says anything, like Hey, this isnt funny. Lets stop, things may end. Were in high school. Why are we bullying people? You have to drive away that atmosphere. As you know, it takes courage to say something like that.

What? Whys he acting like that?

We were just joking

When n.o.body is saying what they should.

b.a.s.t.a.r.d.

Even though hes walking around wearing trash.

I didnt know he was that kind of guy

Level 3.

Violence against the scapegoat is allowed.

Hey, someone buy indoor shoes and throw them away. Lets see if hell wear those, too.

I dont know how you all will remember your school days.

He leaves his bookbag behind at lunch. Put this pencil case in there while hes gone.

Youre a really bad guy.

Whatever.

Were you happy? Did you enjoy yourself?

Huh? Isnt that the pencil case I threw out yesterday?

What? Kim Yul, were you recycling again?

Pft.

The cla.s.sroom, which was small enough to be painted with the excuse of the ignorance of childhood. Are the scenes that occurred there covered with a beautiful sepia filter?

Ugh. The milk spoiled

Hide it under his desk.

Quick! Cla.s.s is gonna start!

It isnt for me.

Where is the strange smell coming from?

You smell it too?

Yeah. It kept stinking all through math cla.s.s.

Wait a moment. Ill look for it. Sniff, sniff.

I think its coming from the back row.

I am a little more subtle than you guys.

I am cunning.

Yul, why do you bother was.h.i.+ng the rags? A rags a rag no matter how much you wash it.

How sad. Maybe he sympathizes with the rag

Maybe there was n.o.body like me in your school.

Or maybe, you simply dont remember.

[Currently, your immersion rate is 100%.]

But I am definitely here.

In this city.

In this school.

I am sitting in this cla.s.sroom, holding a mechanical pencil.

Cla.s.s Pres, what are you looking at?

The cla.s.s president looks at me with strange eyes.

Gongja.

Huh?

The cla.s.s president trembled. It was very slight. He seemed to be disgusted with something, or maybe he was lamenting something. But his weird att.i.tude soon lifted.

The cla.s.s president cleared his throat and said, No. Its nothing. I just couldnt remember your name all of a sudden. What was it, again?

What? Cla.s.s Pres, do you have dementia this young? Im Hw.a.n.g Eunseo.

Ah. Thats right, the cla.s.s president murmured, saying, Thats the name.

That kid usually didnt interact with our group.

I heard your girlfriend is running for student council.

Yeah. Why?

I think I will, too. Please tell her I look forward to working with her.

What? You wanna be the student council president? But all you ever do is study, Cla.s.s Pres.

I need recommendations to enter Seoul National University. They say its easy if you become the student council president.

Is that so? Seems like it.

Its kind of funny how he wants to join the student council to go to Seoul National University. Well, its the cla.s.s president. Hes an honest guy. I decide to let it pa.s.s.

Cool. Good luck, Cla.s.s Pres. Im voting for my girlfriend, but anyway, fight on.

The cla.s.s president nods his head with a blank face.

All right. Thanks.

I am strong.

I am a manipulative and shrewd person.

Therefore.

Even if you didnt say it, Im going to try my best.

Let us talk about my defeat.