Park Jin-soo, he was a villain. And not just any ordinary villain.
“The defendant, not content with murdering 17 lives, tortured and defiled them in the process, and has received no forgiveness from the bereaved families.”
He had murdered a staggering 17 people! He was truly a terrifying serial killer, one who would go down in the history of South Korea.
“This court sentences the defendant to death." Naturally, the judicial authorities of South Korea sentenced Park Jin-soo to death without hesitation. When the verdict of the first trial was announced, the prosecution did not appeal.
The same was true for Park Jin-soo. He too raised no objection to the sentence. He only spoke outside the courtroom.
“Mr. Park Jin-soo, why on earth did you commit murder?”
"When a human who sexually assaulted a 7-year-old and walks the streets after a meager 3-year sentence, or a human who brutally killed someone driving a Rolls-Royce high on drugs and propofol only to serve just 2 years thanks to a lawyer with personal connections, is alive and breathing right in front of your eyes, wouldn't it be strange to just endure it?"
"Why did you inflict such horrible torture while kidnapping and murdering the victims?”
"So I should just kill bastards like that? I went through the trouble of kidnapping them, so I have to see it through to the end before killing them.” “Do you feel no remorse?"
“You mean me, the one who cut them into five pieces while they were alive? Or the judges who, citing personal connections, chopped a 20-year sentence down to 2?
Ah, me?
Yes, I am remorseful." “Are you apologizing?"
“Yes, thinking about it now, I have wronged the bereaved families. It seems murder can't solve anything. I should have cut off their arms and legs, leaving only a single left arm, and gouged out their eyes before leaving them on the street... I failed to properly consider the hearts of the victims' families who suffered because of those bastards. I'm suddenly getting solemn. Does anyone happen to have a wet wipe? I think I'm about to cry.”
“Are you denying the judicial system of South Korea right now?”
“Deny it? On the contrary, I love the laws of South Korea. Especially now that I've been sentenced to death, I've decided to praise South Korea's judicial system. From now on, I will bow twice a day to that statue in front of the Supreme Court—what was she, the Goddess of Justice? In any case, the one wearing a blindfold, symbolizing how she turns a blind eye to personal connections.”
“Praise?" "Of course I should praise it. Even if I receive the death sentence, South Korea can never actually kill me. What a wonderful country, isn't it? It even sends me to a prison full of bastards who deserve to die. A place where the content is updated without rest, I'm already on the verge of happiness. To the people of this nation, I will serve you diligently in return for eating, sleeping, and shitting on your tax money.”
And so, Park Jin-soo became a villain more beloved than anyone in the world. And he actually kept his word. In prison, he murdered 7 more vicious criminals and created over 177 disabled people.
The world was truly filled with stories about Park Jin-soo. But in the year 2027, the world no longer spoke of Park Jin-soo.
[Do you see that? Over there! A giant tower has appeared!]
Towers began to appear all over the world, the Awakened began to appear, and those who challenged the Towers began to be called Hunters. In the face of this anomaly, unseen anywhere in human history, the name Park Jin-soo was quickly forgotten. And then, the year 2032.
"Mr. Park Jin-soo, you have Awakened, haven't you?"
“Yes.”
“Let's make a deal."
"A deal?"
“We will reduce your sentence each time you clear a floor of the Tower.”
“I was sentenced to death, so I don't have a prison term."
“If you accept the deal, we will commute your death sentence to a 50-year prison term. From there, we will reduce your sentence by one year for every floor of the Tower you clear. In addition, should you acquire special items or achieve special feats, we will grant you merits equivalent to your accomplishments.”
The offer was made. “It's a gracious offer that I have no reason to refuse, but how can I be of any help? I wasn't good at studying in high school, I never went to college, I don't have any particular skills, and I'm a madman who isn't satisfied unless I kill anything that offends my eyes."
“Yes, that is precisely why we need you, Mr. Park Jin-soo. Your talents are needed now more than ever.”
“Ah, then that settles it. I'll accept the offer. But will I be able to do well?"
And so, Park Jin-soo accepted the offer without hesitation. "I can guarantee it. Mr. Park Jin-soo, you will soon become a villain more beloved than anyone else.
‘ Park Jin-soo, he was out in the world.