On February 25, 1993, a new government was launched with the inauguration of President Kim Man-sam, a civilian rather than a military man. To differentiate itself from the previous regime, the Kim Man-sam administration immediately disclosed the assets of the president and his family, urging high-ranking officials to do the same.
The Blue Wind Association was likely taking a step back for now, observing the new president's moves. Meanwhile, the spring of a new year was also approaching for me.
“It is a true honor to have this opportunity to speak before all of you who are entering Korea University.”
Well, if it isn't him. Lee Han-soo, advisor to the Goryeo Daily. The mouth of the Blue Wind Association.
The megaphone of the Blue Wind Association. He was one of the members of the Blue Wind Association I knew.
“The military regime has finally come to an end, and a new civilian government has been established. This is the strength and potential of the people. As the elites of the Republic of Korea, I ask that you do your best for the country. We must ensure that a military regime never rises on this land again.”
I didn't know before. A journalist who was known as a democratic martyr under the military regime. That he, Lee Han-soo, was a member of the Blue Wind Association.
The rather long congratulatory speech finally ended. Myeong-soo, who was next to me, yawned and spoke.
“Yawn~ That guy talks too much. What are you gonna do today?”
“Nothing. Why?”
“Wanna go to Apgujeong District together?”
“...Didn't I say I'm not drinking with you?”
“I told you it was a mistake. I won't do it again. Let's go!”
“Is all you think about having fun? Aren't you going to prepare for the bar exam? What about your promise to me?”
“Ah, I will! I'm going to pass the first round of the bar exam within two years! Let's just have some fun today!”
A month ago, at Myeong-soo's house in Seoul.
“Help me out. There's something I'm aiming for, and this is related to it. I need you guys to help me.”
As the atmosphere grew serious, Myeong-soo and Hyeon-seong straightened up from their relaxed postures and focused on the story.
“What? Why so serious?”
“Mm.”
I briefly explained the background that led me to make this plan.
“I'm planning to look into my parents' deaths. They say it was a robbery-murder, but they still don't know who the culprits are. And it's strange that my maternal grandfather didn't know my mother had died.”
“...”
Myeong-soo and Hyeon-seong looked at each other. They knew I had lost my parents when I was young, but I had never talked about it like this before.
“Anyway, so I'm going to find the culprits who killed my mom and dad first. And no matter who is at the end of it, I'm going to fight to the end.”
Myeong-soo, who had been watching me silently, spoke.
“So, you're saying there's some kind of conspiracy behind your parents' deaths? And you want us to help you uncover it and catch the culprits, is that it?”
“Yeah, I think it'll be a little easier if you guys help. You'll help, right?”
Myeong-soo's words were completely different from what I wanted to hear.
“‘Help you’? My ass.”
Hyeon-seong nodded as if in agreement.
“This bastard acts all cool by himself. Hey! Mu-hyeok! Dammit, your parents are my parents, and my parents are your parents. What do you mean, 'help you'? Of course we have to do it together. Right, Hyeon-seong?”
“Of course.”
“Ah! Shit. You scared me.”
Myeong-soo grinned as he watched me clutch my chest in relief.
“So, what should we do?”
“First, I plan to work under my grandfather and build my own strength. I want to get my revenge with my own power, even if it takes a long time. To do that, I still need more time. I think there's a high probability that my maternal uncles were involved.”
Myeong-soo and Hyeon-seong's eyes widened in surprise.
“Your uncles? Your mom's older brothers?”
“Yeah. Otherwise, there's no way the news of my mom's death wouldn't have reached my grandfather. It means someone blocked it, and the only people who could do that are my uncles... It could be one of them, or both.”
“Hmm...”
“Anyway, so I don't have time to take the bar exam. If I enter the Judicial Research and Training Institute and all that, a few years will fly by. It's more important to earn my grandfather's trust in that time.”
“Then why did you come to law school?”
“First, to win my grandfather's heart. Second, to win people over.”
“Geez, to a place some people can't get into even if they wanted to.”
Myeong-soo let out a short laugh.
“So, what should I do?”
“First, Myeong-soo, you pass the bar exam as quickly as possible. After passing, whether your grades at the training institute are good or not, you must become a prosecutor. Help me from there.”
“Dammit. The bar exam isn't some dog's name. You think I can just decide to pass it and become a prosecutor just like that?”
“You can do it. You'll do well.”
He would do well. In my past life, I saw Myeong-soo again after he had disappeared from Busan when his leg became lame. I saw him on the TV news.
Myeong-soo entered Korea University, passed the bar exam in three years, and became a prosecutor. From then on, he made a name for himself as the prosecutor who catches gangsters. And a few years later, after bringing down Hong Jin-pyo and his son, the ones who had lamed his leg, he quit his job as a prosecutor and disappeared.
The mad prosecutor. The gangster prosecutor. The prosecutor with no reverse gear.
Those were Lee Myeong-soo's nicknames at the time.
“Should I thank you for believing in me? Phew... My golden university life is over, over.”
Hyeon-seong, who had been listening, looked at me.
“And Hyeon-seong...”
I also explained what Hyeon-seong would do. I couldn't explain everything, but I felt reassured to have friends who could walk this path with me.
“Huh? Ah, Mu-hyeok! Let's go to Apgujeong District!”
“Hah... Then we're just having a quick drink and coming back, right?”
“Of course.”
Seeing Myeong-soo grinning from ear to ear at the mention of going to Apgujeong District, I couldn't help but smile too.
“Hey! Kim Mu-hyeok!”
A sharp woman's voice came from behind. When I turned my head, someone was running this way. Myeong-soo, who was beside me, gave the woman a slight bow.
But the woman who approached completely ignored Myeong-soo and was glaring at me.
“Why didn't you come to the orientation meeting?”
“The orientation meeting?”
“We sent out a notice for the freshmen to gather before the entrance ceremony to get to know each other and greet the seniors. The guy next to you came, so why didn't you?”
“I was under the impression it was voluntary.”
I didn't realize it, but she seemed to be a senior from the student council.
“Hah, this one's funny. If you're the top student in the nation with a perfect score, you don't need classmates?”
“As far as I know, more than half of the law department doesn't attend. And I couldn't participate because I had something to do. There's the welcoming party, and I'll do my best to participate in the OT and MT. Isn't that enough?”
“Hmph... I'll see you at the welcoming party.”
She glared at me once more, then turned away. I quietly asked Myeong-soo.
“Who is that?”
“A second-year senior.”
“Did everyone participate except me?”
“Nuh-uh, not even half showed up.”
“Then why is she giving me shit?”
“I don't know. Maybe she wants attention. Forget it, let's just hurry up and go to Apgujeong District.”
“What did you guys do when you gathered then?”
“Nothing much. Greeted the classmates, greeted the second-year seniors, that's it. Just got to know some faces, then went to a nearby restaurant to drink, and that was it!”
“Doesn't sound like much.”
“Just leave it. Let's get going, we can't be too late.”
In the early 1990s, Apgujeong District was like a holy land for young people. A mecca of entertainment, filled with rock cafes and nightclubs. A place where the Orange Tribe and Gginggang Tribe gathered.
We arrived before the sun set, but the roads were already packed with cars. After searching for a parking spot, we finally found one, parked, and got out.
“Kuh, the smell of youth! This is awesome!”
“What do you want to eat?”
“Let's just grab a bite of whatever and check out a rock cafe. I heard they're killer. What was the name? Anyway, there's one.”
“Phew... Alright. Have fun today, then study. Got it?”
“I got it. Hey, you gotta relieve stress sometimes. Your head will explode if all you do is study.”
“Two years. Two years.”
“Ah! This bastard, always nagging! I said I got it!”
We had a simple meal at a nearby restaurant and then went to find a rock cafe. People were already lining up to get in.
“Hurry up.”
I walked after Myeong-soo, who, excited about something, was rushing to get in line. I could see quite a few people being turned away at the entrance. The man managing the entry looked Myeong-soo and me over, then spoke.
“Go up to the third floor.”
“Yes! Thank you.”
I went up to the third floor with Myeong-soo. The inside was filled with the sound of loud music. People who had stood up from their seats to dance were holding drinks in their hands.
We were guided to a table and sat down. The smile never left Myeong-soo's face as he looked around.
“They don't have places like this in Busan. Unlike nightclubs, they say here you just get up from your table, dance, and do your own thing. It's more advanced than a nightclub.”
“Really?”
“Look, everyone's up and dancing. It's an atmosphere of pure enjoyment, without waiters or anything like that.”
Myeong-soo said it was more advanced than a nightclub. But that wasn't true. Rock cafes were places that cleverly evaded the law to do business.
The moment a raid happened, a kind of magic would occur where the flashy lights and loud music would all change, and the place would transform into a restaurant. It was certainly a free atmosphere, perhaps because most of the people were university students.
In my past life, I had never once come to a place like this during my university days, so it felt a bit awkward. Myeong-soo was already up from his seat, shaking his body to the music. I was sitting, drinking, and watching Myeong-soo dance when he spoke to me.
“You just gonna sit there?”
“Yeah, I'll drink a little first.”
At my words, Myeong-soo looked around again and went back to swaying his body. Unlike Myeong-soo, who was enjoying himself by talking to the women at the next table and making silly jokes, I just sat still and drank.
“What's this? I thought you were a model student, but it looks like you come to places like this too? How surprising.”
I turned toward the voice and saw a familiar person with her friends looking at me. It was that senior who had said something to me earlier.
“Why aren't you saying anything? Are you embarrassed you got caught?”
“Do I have to answer?”
“So you have time to come to a place like this, but no time to participate in school events, I see.”
“I'll manage my own time. Don't worry about it, and if you came to have fun, then have fun.”
The women who came with the senior looked at my face, then asked her.
“Who is he? He's handsome.”
“Just some annoying junior.”
“Law school?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh! Law school with that face.”
“But I've seen that face somewhere, where was it?”
“You probably saw him on TV.”
“TV?”
“Last year's top scorer on the college entrance exam. You know, that annoying guy who said, 'Studying was the easiest thing'.”
“Ah! That crazy bastard?” ...What are they doing, talking about someone right in front of them?
Just then, one of the senior's friends saw my expression and apologized.
“Ah, I'm sorry. It just slipped out.”
“It's fine. Don't mind me and have fun. I'll be leaving soon anyway.”
“Don't say that, why don't you join us?”
“No, I'm really heading home soon.”
At those words, the women looked at their senior with pleading eyes.
“Don't be like that, why don't you join our table? What about your friend next to you?”
“I'll do whatever Mu-hyeok wants.”
Thanks to Myeong-soo backing out, I was put in a difficult position.
“...Then, we'll just sit for a little while before we go. Please, sit.”
Three women sat down across from us.
“Your name is Kim Mu-hyeok, and you're Lee Myeong-soo?”
“Yes.”
“Hey, hey~ Let's speak comfortably. I'm Lee Su-jeong, she's Hong Seo-yeon, and this one is your senior, so I don't need to introduce her, right?”
“Song Yu-ri.”
“Hello.”
I looked at Myeong-soo in disbelief, and he stealthily avoided my gaze.
“...I'm Kim Mu-hyeok.”
Each holding a beer bottle, we drank freely and continued the conversation.
“Are you two friends from before?”
“Yes, we've been friends since we were young.”
“Same here. Seo-yeon, Yu-ri, and I went to the same elementary school.”
The conversation was mainly led by Myeong-soo and the woman named Su-jeong.
“Is Mu-hyeok always this quiet? Why are you just sitting there?”
“He's innocent, unlike how he looks. He's just being shy.”
“Hey! Your accent is so cute!”
“Is that so?”
“Uh-huh. I've only ever lived in Seoul, so I find accents cute. Mu-hyeok doesn't seem to have an accent?”
“He's a weird one. Just don't mind him.”
“Why? He's handsome. That forgives everything. It's okay to be blunt. Mu-hyeok can be.”
“Stop it. What are you doing with these younger guys?”
The senior named Yu-ri scolded Su-jeong and stopped her.
“Why? I'm just saying a handsome guy is handsome.”
Just then, someone from behind saw Senior Yu-ri's group and spoke to them.
“Oh~ Yu-ri, Su-jeong, Seo-yeon! Fancy seeing you all here.”
It was a very familiar voice. I turned around, and sure enough, it was Cheon Ji-won.
“What, why is this bastard here?”
Cheon Ji-won, who had unconsciously taken a step back upon seeing me, belatedly glared at me, pretending to be tough.
“This bastard, pretending to be all innocent, is already out drinking? Peasants, anyway...”
“Oppa! Aren't your words a bit harsh?”
Su-jeong stood up from her seat and shouted at Cheon Ji-won. But Cheon Ji-won twisted his lips into a sneer.
“You guys too, why are you hanging out with kids like this? Phew... Lowering your standards. Geez, after acting all high and mighty.”
“What?”
Lee Su-jeong glared, her eyes blazing with anger. It looks like another fight is about to break out. It seems like every time I try to have a drink, I get caught up in something like this.
“Hyung, let's stop, shall we?”
I tried to stop him for now. But the foolish Cheon Ji-won only became more arrogant.
“What? You bastard. I told you not to call me Hyung, didn't I?”
“Fine, Ji-won. I said stop.”
“What, Ji-won? Are you trying to act like you're my equal?”
“Hah, forget it. We're leaving now, so you can go back to what you were doing. Myeong-soo, let's go. We should get going now, seniors.”
“Huh? Oh. Okay.”
Myeong-soo stood up, and the women also gathered their bags and coats and got up from their seats.
“Where do you think you're going? Kim Mu-hyeok, do you really want to die?”
Why has this bastard gotten so brave? He's such a coward.
“You tell me not to call you Hyung, and you get mad when I call you Ji-won. What do you want me to do? I'm embarrassed to even act like I know you, so I said let's just pretend we don't know each other.”
“Hahaha, you crazy bastard. You're getting a beating today. Hey! Hyeon-woo!”
As Ji-won called his name, three men approached. So he had backup, as expected.
“What? We were having fun, why'd you call? What's going on? Who's this bastard?”
“Stomp this bastard for me. I'll treat you to the full course today.”
“Are we thugs?”
“You don't want to?”
With the three men joining him, Cheon Ji-won was on top of the world. The men let out an irritated sigh.
“Phew. Just rough him up a bit, right? You take care of the aftermath. Got it?”
“Yeah, don't worry. It's not the first or second time, is it?”
So that's what it was... Cheon Ji-won, that pathetic bastard.
“Myeong-soo, take the seniors and go out first. I'll talk to them for a bit and then come out.”
“You sure you'll be okay?”
“I'm Kim Mu-hyeok. You forget?”
“No, that's not it... Just go easy on them.”
Myeong-soo left with the women.
“This bastard, acting all cool by himself. What are you going to do alone? What are you waiting for, Hyeon-woo?”
The three sighed and then approached me.
“Sorry about this. Ji-won's always like this.”
“I know. You're Cheon Ji-won's lapdogs, right?”
“...Is this bastard crazy!”
The man named Hyeon-woo flew into a rage and charged at me.