You're crossing the line, aren't you? #4 Teacher. You're crossing the line, aren't you? The War on Crime.
In October 1990, it was a special presidential decree announced to quell public opinion, which was boiling over due to various corruption scandals at the time, and to shift the political situation. In the past, soldiers who seized power through military coups had arrested all political gangsters, including figures like Lee Jeong-jae.
The Fifth Republic, which came to power through the 12.12 coup, also created an extralegal military facility called the Samcheong Re-education Camp to round up gangsters. The purpose was to appease the public, but where there is light, there is also shadow. Innocent victims were bound to emerge.
Since the previous year, there had already been a massive wave of arrests for five major violent crimes, but it was on a different scale from the War on Crime, which the president announced directly to the people. It was a sweeping operation to eradicate organized crime, one so extensive that it was impossible to escape from with ordinary connections.
However, despite this powerful measure, not a single gangster associated with the Blue Wind Association was arrested. They survived to take control of Seoul, which became a great source of power for the Blue Wind Association.
“What kind of nonsense is this?”
No adult would immediately understand what a 17-year-old high school student was saying. But, with Chairman Cheon’s timely arrival, I now had something to say.
“You saw the car that came to see me earlier, right?”
“Yeah, I’ve never seen a car like that in Busan. Why? What did that person say?”
“That man is my maternal grandfather. He said a massive crime crackdown is about to happen soon. I was just given a hint to be careful since I tend to get into a lot of trouble myself. Like you said, sir, this is also fate, so I couldn't just stand by. That's why I'm telling you.”
“……”
“I’ve said my piece. The choice is yours, sir. I told you, it's best to avoid the downpour. Don't go spreading rumors out of some misplaced sense of loyalty. Just take a few of the brothers you truly trust and go into hiding. Don't trust anyone. Not even your boss.”
Leaving behind Park Dong-soo, whose jaw had dropped, I left the rooftop. Whether he listened to my words and acted on them was up to Park Dong-soo. But if he survives, and if he feels grateful to me for it, won't he be of help to me someday?
Inside the car heading to Seoul. Chairman Cheon, who had been leaning quietly in the back seat, suddenly asked.
“Myeong-hun, what do you think of our grandson? Like you said, it felt like I was talking to an old man with a serpent coiled in his belly…”
“Yes, that’s how he seemed to me as well.”
“For seventy years, I've lived thinking I was a good judge of character. But I can't read that young boy's mind.”
“Is that so?”
“The number of people I've seen while dealing in money… Others do it now, but when I was young, I went around collecting debts and met all sorts of people. People who acted entitled even after borrowing money, people who begged for mercy, people who hid, people who brought gangsters to threaten me… I've made my way through all those people to get where I am today. So I thought I knew people well… In my old age, my grandson is putting me to the test.”
At those words, Manager Ha gave a small smile.
“It seems you’ve taken a liking to him.”
“Taken a liking… That audacious boy made me a proposition. If he gets into the best university in Seoul within three years, I have to give him a gift. Hahaha, of course I like him. He inherited half my blood, so he should be like that. He absolutely should.”
“Yes.”
After laughing for a while, Old Man Cheon stopped and spoke to Manager Ha.
“Find a small house in Busan and give it to my grandson. The title… put it in Mu-hyeok's name. Whether this is the last thing I can give the boy, or whether he'll receive something even greater, will depend on his own abilities.”
“Yes.”
After that, not a single word was exchanged in the car until they arrived at Chairman Cheon’s residence in Pyeongchang District. But without him realizing it, the corners of the old man’s mouth were curved in a gentle arc.
Old Man Cheon acted quickly. We moved as soon as Grandma was discharged from the hospital. It was a single-family house with three rooms, a 10-minute walk from the school.
“Mu-hyeok…”
“Grandma, don't say anything else. After seventeen years, the man who calls himself my grandfather showed up, so I boldly made my demands. I asked for living expenses and a house so I could live with you. Grandma, you don't have to work anymore. Just stay home.”
“…I wonder if we’re receiving too great a favor.”
“It's fine. We deserve to receive it. When I grow up, I'll get you an even better house and let you live in luxury. Until then, just think about your health. Got it?”
“My baby, when did you get so big? Let me see that bottom of yours for old times' sake!”
“Ah! Grandma!”
That evening, Grandma and I ate pork belly in our new home. I had never had a moment like this with my grandmother before. I was truly happy.
A few days later. After eating the breakfast Grandma had prepared, I put on my school uniform and left the house. As autumn began in earnest, the path to school was colorful with fallen maple leaves.
As I felt the autumn breeze, I was feeling grateful for being able to live again.
“Hey! Mu-hyeok!”
A voice boomed so loud that everyone in the neighborhood turned to look. The owner of the voice was none other than Myeong-soo.
“Ha… what a set of lungs.”
“You moved, right? When’s the housewarming party? I have to try Grandma’s cooking for the first time in a while. When is it? What should I bring?”
“…I’m not having one.”
“You can’t do that! You moved, you have to have a housewarming party!”
“Just shut up and let’s go.”
“Mu-hyeok! Let's go together!”
Just then, another person ran toward us. It was Park Hyun-seong, whose father was a police officer. Me, Myeong-soo, and Hyun-seong… the three of us always stuck together.
They were the friends who went through the turbulent times with me. Thanks to Hyun-seong’s father, I had been to the police lockup a few times, but I was never punished more severely than that.
“Ah, you bear-like bastard! Get away from me!”
“This little runt, why are you starting trouble again?”
“These bastards fight the moment they see each other. Let’s go.”
Park Hyun-seong, the biggest in our school by physique alone. Lee Myeong-soo, short in stature but exceptionally sociable. And their leader, me, Kim Mu-hyeok.
Walking side by side, watching Myeong-soo and Hyun-seong bicker, it truly sank in that I was back in high school. The school gate was visible in the distance.
“Ah… damn, it's Bald Eagle. I’ll go in a bit later. You two go on ahead. Mu-hyeok, if Viper asks for me, tell him I went to take a dump. Got it?”
Myeong-soo said as he backed away. Just as he said, a teacher with severe hair loss stood by the school gate, holding a broken pool cue.
“I don't like that teacher either. Are you just gonna go in?”
“Did we do something wrong? Let’s go.”
“Alright.”
As Hyun-seong and I passed through the school gate, sure enough, Bald Eagle immediately called out to us.
“Hey, Park Hyun-seong! Kim Mu-hyeok! Stop right there.”
Hyun-seong and I stopped with reluctant faces. Bald Eagle approached, tapping the pool cue against his palm.
“Can't you wear your uniform properly? Park Hyun-seong, where’d you sell your school badge?”
“I forgot to put it on. I’m sorry.”
“Tsk. Wear it from now on. You can go.”
As I was about to bow and leave, Bald Eagle stopped me.
“Park Hyun-seong can go. Mu-hyeok, you wait.”
“……”
“Aren’t you leaving?”
“Yes.”
Hyun-seong looked back at me several times, his feet dragging as he entered the school building.
“Kim Mu-hyeok! Can’t you wear your uniform properly?”
“Is there a problem?”
I looked myself over. Uniform, name tag, even the school badge—everything was worn correctly. The uniform, ironed by my grandmother, was crisper than a private's dress uniform for his first leave.
“Ha, is there a problem? You’re the problem, you are. Kim Mu-hyeok, don't cause any trouble. You’re a poor beggar with no money, so why do you go around fighting so much? You got settlement money?”
“……”
“Not going to answer?”
“I understand.”
“I’m watching you. If you cause trouble just one more time, not even Park Hyun-seong’s father will be able to help you. Do you understand or not?”
“Yes.”
His nickname was Bald Eagle. It was common for teachers in the 80s and 90s to accept bribes, but he was particularly greedy for money.
‘After the rumor spread that my mother’s side of the family was rich, he started acting friendly toward me.’
I struggled to manage my expression. Bald Eagle, who had been scanning me with narrowed eyes, finally shooed me away as if chasing off a bug.
“Go on in.”
“Yes.”
I bowed and walked past the gate. I arrived at the classroom, tossed my bag down, and sat. The good morning mood had been ruined by Bald Eagle.
It got even more annoying because the other kids started to watch me cautiously.
“Don’t you guys walk on eggshells around me. Am I going to eat you? Just act like you normally do.”
“……”
“Ha, this is driving me crazy. Have I ever bullied any of you? Even when I fought, I never bothered you guys. Stop being so cautious. Please.”
After saying that, I didn’t speak to the kids anymore. I tidied my desk and looked out the window. About ten minutes later, the back door opened and Myeong-soo came in.
“Mu-hyeok! Viper isn't here yet, right?”
From behind Myeong-soo, Viper smacked him on the back of the head as he entered.
“Viper’s right here. What are you doing? Get inside.”
“Aack!”
“I didn't even hit you that hard, stop being dramatic. Hurry up and get in.”
Seeing Myeong-soo get hit on the head made me feel a little better.
“Alright, you all know the test results are coming out today, right? Look forward to it.”
“Yes…”
“Anyone whose grades dropped, whose score fell, you’re dead.”
Dongseong Technical High wasn't a prestigious high school, but for a technical school, it had a high rate of students going to college. So they were quite strict about managing grades. There were quite a few students who were good at studying.
I had come to a technical high school to get a job. Myeong-soo and Hyun-seong had good grades but followed me to this school.
‘Test scores…’
I had a very bad feeling. And when lunchtime came. - Ah, ah. First-year, class 8 student Kim Mu-hyeok, please come to the faculty office.
I repeat, student Kim Mu-hyeok, please come to the faculty office right now.
“What is it? Did you get into trouble without me knowing?”
“No.” “Then why is the faculty office calling you?”
“I don’t know, I’ll be right back.”
“Ah, I have to go to the snack bar! I’ll wait. Come back quickly.”
I got up from my seat and opened the classroom door, just as Hyun-seong was coming in.
“I’m going to the faculty office.”
“Oh, hurry back.”
“You two wait here and don’t fight.”
“Got it.”
I was a little worried about leaving the two of them alone, but I hurried toward the faculty office. I opened the door and entered, speaking in a loud voice.
“This is Kim Mu-hyeok. You called for me.”
The noisy faculty office fell silent in an instant.
“Over here, you punk.”
Bald Eagle called me over. He had an expression of disbelief on his face.
“Do you know why I called you?”
“I do not.”
“I’ll ask you again. You don’t know why you were called?”
“I do not.”
“This bastard is hopeless.”
“……”
My homeroom teacher, Viper, stepped in between us.
“It’s not certain yet, is it?”
“Hey, Teacher Park. Does it make any sense for this delinquent to be first in the entire school? He must have cheated or done something.”
Ah… just as I thought. It was the same picture back then, when I studied like a madman and got good grades for the first time in my second year of high school.
“Kim Mu-hyeok, tell the truth. Does it make any sense for you to be first in the school? No, you only got five questions wrong across all subjects? If you were me, would you believe it?”
“……”
“Teacher Park, you see? This bastard can't answer.”
“Mu-hyeok, tell me. Did you really cheat?”
“I did not.”
“Wow, this bastard is really something else. Go get your grandmother. I let it slide when you caused trouble, but now you're even messing with school exams? Is that what your grandma taught you?”
This teacher is crossing the line, isn't he? Rage boiled inside me. You can insult me, but you don't touch my grandma.
I lifted my bowed head and glared at Bald Eagle’s head.
“Look at this bastard’s eyes. Not gonna lower your gaze? You wanna die?”
“Teacher Lee. I’ll handle this.”
“Teacher Park. Can’t you see this bastard’s eyes? He’s staring like he wants to kill me. Kim Mu-hyeok, you think you can take a swing?”
A chilling, teeth-grinding sound came from my mouth.
“Teacher… you need to apologize for speaking carelessly about my grandmother.”
“What? What did you say?”
“It’s not certain whether I cheated or got that score by studying hard, is it? So why are you insulting my kind grandmother? My grandma is not someone you can just talk about like that.”
All eyes in the faculty office turned to me and Bald Eagle.
“Hahaha, you crazy bastard. Still haven’t come to your senses. What, skill? Skiiiill?”
“Want to make a bet with me? Bring the test paper right now. I’ll solve it right in front of you. If my score comes out the same, you will apologize to my grandmother. If not, I'll quit school.”
At my bombshell declaration, the mouths of every teacher in the faculty office fell open.