Private Tutor (1)

World Sorcery Association.

Supervisor 'Kim Soyul', dispatched from this place—essentially the highest level overseeing sorcery associations spread across the nation—sighed as if she had a headache.

'After suffering so much to climb up to the World Association, who would have thought I'd be sent back to Korea.'

Kim Soyul wore a gloomy expression.

After joining the Korea branch of the Sorcery Association and working there for ten years, she had put in relentless effort, and eventually managed to enter the World Sorcery Association.

The very center stage of sorcery she always dreamed of even in her sleep!

And there, she was dreaming big dreams.

That someday, with enough effort, she would rise to a significant position at the World Sorcery Association's global branch...!

How much effort did she pour into that?

She'd deliberately go to work at dawn to stay on the good side of her superiors, reading the room and deftly handling any tasks that might annoy them.

Thanks to all that, at the World Sorcery Association, not only was her position solid, but her performance evaluations were excellent—people were even saying she might get promoted next year or the year after.

But she hadn't even heard these things for long before she found herself back at the Korea Sorcery Association.

'The president, that bastard....'

Because the president and deputy president—whom she'd always disliked during her time in the Korea branch for their lecherous looks—had caused a massive scandal.

Because of that, she was urgently dispatched back to Korea and would now have to stay as an auditor until the investigation of the Korean branch was over—likely for about a year.

She couldn't help but feel depressed.

'Of course, just being here for a year will be reflected positively in my performance review.'

In reality, she'd be able to accomplish much more by working in the global branch for a year, and so she let out another sigh.

'And that's not the only reason...'

There was still another reason for her to sigh.

Because of Han Soyeon, whom the crazy Korean president had tried to use in an occult ritual.

To keep her safe and conduct an investigation, the association had kept her close. She was a good girl and didn't really cause any trouble.

She even kept smiling gently, cheeks slightly flushed, even when left alone.

... To the point Kim Soyul wondered if maybe the ritual had driven her a little mad.

But leaving that aside, the primary reason Han Soyeon caused Kim Soyul headaches was her behavior whenever she mentioned a certain name.

'Whenever she hears the name Kim Dojun, it's like the girl falls apart...'

Remembering this, Kim Soyul recalled the last conversation she had while investigating her.

Specifically, their talk about Kim Dojun.

"What did Kim Dojun do in the basement?"

"Are you interested in Dojun?"

"Of course, I need to report about it."

"But if you report about him, won't Dojun get bothered by it later?"

"Well, I might have to call him in briefly for an investigation."

"Dojun said he hates being bothered. But you're saying you would summon him for an investigation?"

"... That's necessary for the investigation."

"... By the way, how many people will there be?"

"What?"

"Personnel. Dojun said not to kill them..."

"Heek...."

Recalling Han Soyeon's smile and those chilling eyes glittering with highlights as she said that, Kim Soyul couldn't help but let out a little moan.

'Ah, what a fate...'

She closed her eyes, sighing again as if suffering from a headache.

####

Currently, Go-gun Group was slowly recovering after having taken a severe blow.

Actually, it wasn't all that severe.

Go-gun Group was a top-tier company—there was no way the business would collapse just because the eldest son got into some trouble.

... But in terms of public image, they'd taken heavy damage, which meant they were now pouring massive resources into rebuilding it.

In the midst of this, Kim Dojun suddenly showed up.

The very man who had not only wrecked the company's image, but virtually ended Goh Seung-jun's future as the heir.

Goh Kuncheon looked at Kim Dojun standing confidently before him.

"So, you're Kim Dojun?"

"Nice to meet you."

Kim Dojun simply waved his hand in reply—a gesture even members of the National Assembly would humble themselves before, when meeting Goh Kuncheon.

Goh Kuncheon's expression soured, but—

"The Manshin Temple monstrous relic acquisition, the slush fund diversion, the request to the forces confronting the overseas branch... What else was there?"

"!!"

Goh Kuncheon's jaw dropped at Kim Dojun's words, but he quickly composed his face.

"You don't have to bother fixing your expression. I know everything already."

"Evi—"

"I have evidence, of course. Right here—"

Kim Dojun said as he shook his smartphone.

"I've also prepared backups elsewhere, and made sure that if I die unexpectedly, all this will get spread to the vicious media wolves."

Of course, that was a lie.

Kim Dojun didn't have a single piece of actual evidence about Go-gun Group's corruption.

He was just listing things he'd seen in the [setting].

So, he had no files, and there was no system to leak them if he died.

... Truth is, he didn't even have the technical know-how for such a setup.

"Nonsense. There's no way you have evidence—"

"Want to check right now?"

But Kim Dojun's poker face and act of unlocking the phone won out.

"... What do you want?"

Goh Kuncheon eventually scowled and asked.

"We're from different generations, but you're easy to talk to."

At Kim Dojun's next words, goh Kuncheon nearly threw his ashtray in a fit of 'You're openly threatening me, you crazy bastard!' but managed to restrain himself and replied with superhuman patience.

"... Speak."

"There are two things."

"..."

"First, I want you to hand over the 'President's Ring' that Go-gun Group is keeping."

"What? That's—"

"You're refusing? Well, in that case, maybe letting the government collect those misappropriated taxes wouldn't be such a bad idea?"

Grit—

Goh Kuncheon ground his teeth.

"... I'll hand it over."

"I agree, it's much better for you to turn it over to me than to the government."

Kim Dojun grinned slyly.

Grind—

Goh Kuncheon's ashtray grated audibly, but Kim Dojun ignored him.

"It's not that I want to take without giving anything in return."

He said, then made his second proposal.

"... What?"

Goh Kuncheon, apparently not understanding, listened for more.

"Didn't I say? I'm not here to take everything for nothing. If you accept, it'll benefit Go-gun Group as well."

Goh Kuncheon fell silent.

Certainly, if he accepted Kim Dojun's second proposal, there was no downside for him.

But why, he wondered.

"I don't have any ulterior motives this time. I've gotten something valuable, so I'll help you out a bit in return."

As Kim Dojun continued, goh Kuncheon stared at him.

"... I'll accept that too."

He said.

"Oh, and could you prepare a few other things too? Nothing fancy, just some things I need for teaching."

"All right."

"And, just in case, don't try anything funny with me. Now that we've formed such a good relationship, if you anger me, you know what'll happen, right?"

"I'll keep that in mind, too."

With his response—and without need to say the words "this bastard..."—Kim Dojun nodded in satisfaction.

"Well then, look forward to it."

With those words, he left.

####

Go-gun Group's eldest son, goh Ryuwon.

But in truth, Go-gun Group's eldest son wasn't Goh Seung-jun.

He's the second son, in fact.

What's more, the true eldest son is still alive.

Then why is Goh Seung-jun called the eldest instead of the second?

That's because the real eldest son of Go-gun Group was such a delinquent he made Seung-jun look like a model child.

Go-gun Group's black sheep: Goh Ryuwon.

Since childhood, he'd always been a troublemaker.

Seeing no potential as an heir, goh Kuncheon treated him as if he didn't exist from the start.

As a result, goh Ryuwon became something of a taboo within the company, and to erase him from existence, the second son, Seung-jun, was publicly installed as the "eldest."

Unceremoniously stripped of even the position of eldest, goh Ryuwon continued his school life as a second-year at a sorcery academy notorious for letting anyone in as long as they paid.

He fit the stereotype of a "golden delinquent."

Tanned, blond punk.

His skin, which was obviously fair, was tanned to a bronze, broadcasting his delinquency. His hair, undoubtedly originally black, had been bleached to a flashy gold.

The multiple earrings in each ear completed the look.

At the moment, unlike the Sorcery Institute, the sorcery academy was still in session. But he and his fellow punks were skipping class, hanging out and smoking in an alley.

"Goh Ryuwon."

Someone—no, not just anyone—

"Huh? What do you want?"

Until Kim Dojun called out his name.

"You're Goh Ryuwon, right?"

"I said, who the hell are you?"

Goh Ryuwon spat on the ground, glaring as Kim Dojun confirmed his identity.

Kim Dojun stared at him.

"Attitude. Fail."

"What the hell are you saying, you bastard?"

"Character. Fail."

"Hey, who the hell are you?"

"Overall. Fail."

Having said that, Kim Dojun looked around the alley.

"Everyone except Goh Ryuwon, go home."

He declared.

"Why's this guy showing off out of nowhere?"

"The guy's a damn psycho."

"... Huh? He looks kind of familiar."

At the reactions of Goh Ryuwon's companions, Kim Dojun simply nodded and picked up a stone from the corner and threw it.

BAM!!!

"

"?"

"

The gang watched as the stone embedded itself in the wall above their heads, with cracks forming from the impact.

"I won't say it twice. Everyone but Goh Ryuwon, get lost if you don't want to die."

At Kim Dojun's words—

"S-Shit...!"

The delinquents, realizing the situation, quickly tossed away their cigarettes and ran for their lives.

"Hey, hey, you sons of bitches!"

Shouting after his fleeing friends, goh Ryuwon soon saw Kim Dojun approach and was taken aback.

"Hey, no, don't come! Don't come any closer! Do you know who I am!?"

"Of course I do, that's why I called your name, you idiot."

"You son of a bitch! Lay a finger on me and you're fucked, you hear me!? Do you know who—urk!?"

Without another word, Kim Dojun grabbed Goh Ryuwon by the head—

Whack!

"Argh!?"

—and smacked the back of his head.

Tears nearly sprang to Goh Ryuwon's eyes from the pain.

"I'm Kim Dojun. From now on, I'll be the top private tutor in Korea, tasked with turning a filthy delinquent like you into a student who gets into the nation's top university, the 'Simjoo Institute', in just one and a half years."

He introduced himself, twisting his lips into a grin as he let go.

"Well, since this is our first meeting—"

He then pulled a battered aluminum bat from his bag.

"Let's fill up your perseverance and character with thirty swings, shall we?"

"W-wait—aaaaagh!!"

And with that, for the first time ever, goh Ryuwon's scream echoed pitifully through the alley.

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