Not long after Kang Han-byul entered the Academy, by chance, he met Do Gyeon-woo.
On his way back to the dormitory, he heard a faint sound that seemed like someone was crying.
“???”
— “Please stop! I’m sorry, I was wrong….”
Kang Han-byul
— “Did you hear something over there? Should we check it out?”
Kang Han-byul couldn’t ignore the suffering of others.
Hearing the cry of someone in distress, he stepped towards the back of the building.
And there, he found Do Gyeon-woo being bullied by the triplets.
Kang Han-byul
— “What the hell are you three doing? Picking on him like cowards? Are you alright? Did you get hurt?”
Triplets (Woo Geum-dong, Woo Eun-dong, Woo Dong-dong)
— “Hey, what’s he saying? Who is he?”
— “I don’t know who he is, but mind your own business and get lost.”
— “Looks like you don’t know who we are. If you don’t want to get hurt, go home and wash your feet before you sleep!”
Kang Han-byul
— “You three? Who the hell are you?”
Triplets (Woo Geum-dong, Woo Eun-dong, Woo Dong-dong)
— “Hehe, you want to know who we are? Well, listen up!”
— “We are the Gatekeepers of Hell!”
— “Cerberus of the Gold River Academy!”
— “Woo Geum-dong!”
— “Woo Eun-dong!”
— “Woo Dong-dong!”
— “We are the Cerberus of the Gold River Academy!”
Kang Han-byul
— “Cerberus… Looks like you guys have a reputation. You must be pretty strong, huh?”
In this encounter.
Kang Han-byul finds himself up against the triplets.
The triplets are a far more troublesome opponent than the monsters faced in the tutorial or the extra classmates who had been annoying him with their challenges.
It’s no surprise.
While each triplet might not individually compare to Kang Han-byul in skill, their synergy is unmatched.
For players who are just starting out or lack control skills, they would be facing a significant challenge here.
Kang Han-byul
— “You’re not bad.”
Through this battle, the player learns how to handle multiple opponents.
If Kang Han-byul manages to defeat the triplets, he can recruit Do Gyeon-woo to his party next, after Dr. Gun and Lisa.
Triplets (Woo Geum-dong, Woo Eun-dong, Woo Dong-dong)
— “Damn, who would’ve thought you were a disciple of the Two-Devil!”
— “Just wait! You don’t know who’s backing us!”
— “You’ll regret this next time!”
Kang Han-byul
— “Heh, come at me again if you dare. If they try to mess with you again, just tell me. I’ll handle it. By the way, my name is Kang Han-byul. And you are?”
??
— “I… I’m Do Gyeon-woo. Thank you so much for helping me.”
Kang Han-byul
— “Do Gyeon-woo? You’re not from some noble family, are you? With the Do surname and a sword, I thought you might be from the Shin Sword Do… Nah, I guess not.”
Do Gyeon-woo
— “Yes, I’m from that family… but I don’t really get treated properly.”
Kang Han-byul
— “What? You’re really from the Shin Sword Do? And you let them push you around like that?”
Do Gyeon-woo
— “Haha… It’s a bit embarrassing, right?”
Kang Han-byul
— “Forget that. How about a sparring match? I’ve always wanted to fight someone from the Shin Sword Do. This is a perfect opportunity!”
Do Gyeon-woo
— “Sorry, but I’m not really into fighting…”
From this event onward, Kang Han-byul forms a bond with Do Gyeon-woo. Because they share a similar swordsmanship background, they meet often, and Kang Han-byul learns to trust him as a reliable ally. Eventually, he becomes involved with the noble family.
In that sense,
“You guys, try bullying me.”
“Huh? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“What’s wrong with him now?”
“Are we crazy enough to bully you?”
First impressions are important, and so is the first encounter.
To make sure I set the right foundation, I decided to set up an event in the game.
Behind the Dimension Hall
I brought the triplets and Yeon-ha-neul to a secluded place behind the Dimension Hall, where human foot traffic is rare, and explained the situation briefly.
Upon hearing the story, the triplets all looked at me with incredulity.
“So, you’re saying…”
“You want us to bully you so that you get help from that person, the disciple of the Two-Devil?”
“We get beaten up by him?”
“Are we supposed to be some third-rate villains?”
“Did we hear that right?”
“Well, you’re not wrong. Just a moment ago, Lisa was on her way back to the dorm with Kang Han-byul, so if we wait here…”
“What kind of nonsense is this!?”
The triplets all protested at once.
They were adamantly telling me to make sense and were about to argue.
Yeon-ha-neul, who usually sided with me during debates or remained neutrally passive when unsure, also agreed with the triplets this time.
“I think the triplets are right. Even if your family gave you an order to form a connection with the disciple of the Two-Devil, this doesn’t seem like the right way.”
“Mm… I see.”
“That sounds like something out of an old drama. Who in their right mind would become friends like that? Even in dramas, they get criticized for forcing unrealistic plots. If it were a romance, some people might still support it, but for a relationship between two guys… well, maybe it could work, but it’s still weird.”
As Yeon-ha-neul scolded me, she suddenly seemed to have a thought and fell silent in deep contemplation.
Her rabbit ears perked up.
“No… But Gyeon-woo is different. I can’t let him go down that road.”
“Yeon-ha-neul? So what’s your conclusion?”
“Ah! If you want to get close to him, you need to find another way. After all, he’s in the same class as Lisa. Wouldn’t it be easier to ask Lisa to introduce you?”
“Right! Right!”
“Yeon-ha-neul’s right!”
“We don’t need to do that!”
Suddenly, Yeon-ha-neul coughed awkwardly and laid out her reasoning.
The triplets chimed in to support her.
‘Well, she’s not wrong…’
In fact, Yeon-ha-neul was right.
There was no need to create a fake event. Asking Lisa for an introduction would be the simplest solution.
I couldn’t have missed that.
But when it comes to Kang Han-byul, I knew I had to tread carefully.
“Kang Han-byul is an irreplaceable entity. No matter how strong I or others get, solving the future events requires Kang Han-byul’s strength.”
Though I would never admit it, I didn’t want to risk ruining my relationship with him by making the wrong move early on.
So, like the game suggested, I decided I would follow through with the event where Kang Han-byul and Do Gyeon-woo meet.
It was the safest course.
Of course, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a bit of personal interest in it.
“I get to see the event unfold with my own eyes, and I’m part of it. How could I resist?”
As a seasoned player from my previous life, my heart raced with excitement.
I couldn’t quench my desire for the story.
If it doesn’t affect the main story, then it’s a reward for me after all the hardships I’ll endure.
“So, you guys, try bullying me.”
“…”
I showed no sign of changing my mind to Yeon-ha-neul and the triplets.
Then, I turned to the triplets and tried to persuade them.
“Why are you pretending to be nice now? Haven’t you bullied me before? Just do it again like before. I won’t complain, so stop holding back.”
“Hey, no matter what, that’s too much…”
“Are you testing me?”
“How the hell are we supposed to bully you?”
“Don’t worry about the public’s perception. No one’s here but us, so just be honest and tell me how you really feel. You must have been talking behind my back all this time, right? Let’s be real, huh?”
“…”
“I’ll pretend nothing happened here today. So don’t hold back and bully me.”
“Do Gyeon-woo.”
“Are you serious?”
“You’re not lying, are you?”
“Why? Should I record it?”
Now the triplets showed some interest.
Their eyes gleamed as if they were about to pounce on the opportunity.
It seemed like they had a lot of pent-up frustration from all the torment they had put me through. Their gazes were intense.
I warned them, keeping a serious tone.
“Just one thing.”
“…?”
“If you leave a single scratch on me, you’re dead.”
“Hey, are you crazy?”
“You wanted me to be bullied, didn’t you?”
“Did I say to really bully you?!”
“Isn’t this whole thing nuts?”
“Just say you don’t want to do it!”
“Keep it light. Don’t hurt me for real, just pretend to hit or sprinkle some dirt on me, okay?”
“Ha… pretend to hit me…?”
“Are you asking us to make sound effects like ‘whoosh’, ‘swish’, or ‘bang’?”
“And you still want to get hit by them? Do Gyeon-woo’s personality…”
“Stop asking and just do it. Do you think you have the right to refuse? Do what I tell you.”
“Finally, your true nature comes out.”
“Treating us like dogs…”
“Well, we are dogs, huh?”
“Identity revealed.”
“Minion Geum!”
“Minion Eun!”
“Minion Dong!”
“Alright, let’s get started.”
“Let’s go! Loyalty! Loyalty!”
I wasn’t planning on chit-chatting with the triplets any longer.
I pushed them into action.
Unable to argue any longer, they changed their approach and lunged at me.
Even though they were pretending to complain, it seemed their faces were full of intent to get under my skin.
For this time only, I decided to overlook their rudeness.
Or at least, that’s what I thought…
“Wait.”
“Wh-What now!?”
I dodged their punches and stepped away.
They seemed flustered by my quick reflexes.
“To really get someone’s sympathy, you need to see things from a third-party perspective first, don’t you think?”
“So what are you trying to say?”
“Well, I’m going to watch, so try bullying each other first.”
“What?”
“Start fighting now.”
“…”
It was a one-time opportunity, so I had to make sure it looked as natural as possible without seeming fake.
I think I’m being very careful about this.
Time to test them with the triplets.
“The Villainous and Cruel One.” If there’s anyone in this world who fits the description of a monster, it would undoubtedly be Do Gyeon-woo.
Five years from now, unless the world ends, the triplets—who are destined to live their lives as his minions—were certain of this.
“….”
“Who would believe that guy is from the Shin Sword Do…?”
“Well, what are we going to do, then?”
But now, they were starting to fight amongst themselves, as if it were all some kind of entertainment.
The triplets had no choice but to tremble at the devilish orders of Do Gyeon-woo.
Even the time they had been under the protection of Do Seung-woo was nothing like this.
But what could they do?
Do Gyeon-woo was an absolute power.
They were nothing but mere subordinates.
Just as he had casually said a moment ago, they had no choice but to obey if he ordered it.
Sad, but that was their reality.
They had no other options.
“Well, what can we do? If he says to fight, we fight.”
“Sigh… guess we have no choice.”
“…Alright. Let’s just go easy on each other.”
The triplets reluctantly agreed to fight each other.
They didn’t plan on actually fighting—just going through the motions.
So, they lightly tapped each other, making sure not to hurt one another.
But Do Gyeon-woo, who had been watching them as an observer, wasn’t fooled by this act.
With his arms crossed and a cold expression, he started giving orders as if he were a director.
“Is that all you can do? Do you think you can actually get me to feel anything?”
“….”
“Throw in some more dramatic lines, and show some more energy. That’s how you build the tension and make the scene come alive.”
This guy was unbelievable.
He seemed like someone who had gotten obsessed with the idea of a masterpiece.
The triplets all scowled in frustration but decided to follow his wishes, grumbling insults toward Do Gyeon-woo in their heads.
“Hey, do you think you can act all tough just because we’re the same age? You were born only a few minutes before us, and yet you want us to treat you with respect?”
“Seriously, you’re the one who keeps missing the toilet aim. It’s your fault it gets all over the place! Just clean it up or splash some water around before you leave.”
“Well, don’t think you’re any better, Eun-dong! You always ask me to clean the toilet like I’m the youngest! Why do I always have to do it when it’s clogged?”
Slap, slap, slap.
The triplets hurled insults and hit each other as they fought, all while pretending to follow the rules of the “performance.”
But somewhere along the way, the act dropped—emotions took over.
“Okay, this time, throw some dirt around and tear up the uniforms while you’re at it,” Do Gyeon-woo encouraged them with a satisfied grin.
They continued fighting, venting their frustrations on each other, while also diligently carrying out the commands.
Whoosh!
Woo Geum-dong grabbed Woo Dong-dong’s uniform.
The once-durable fabric tore effortlessly.
The mana in Woo Geum-dong’s hands and Woo Dong-dong not activating the uniform’s abilities played their part in this.
And then, as if to get even…
Rip!
Woo Eun-dong’s uniform was suddenly shredded.
The three of them were now tangled in a chaotic mess, tugging at each other’s uniforms, tearing them apart, and rolling around on the floor.
They were so focused that they didn’t even feel embarrassed about exposing their bare skin.
Instead, they seemed to be enjoying the moment as if they were intoxicated by it.
‘What are we even doing right now?’
‘But… this is kind of fun.’
‘Eun-dong is actually pretty strong…’
Humans, living under social norms and agreements, are distinguished from beasts by the simple act of wearing clothes.
By wearing clothes, humans prove that they are different from animals and live in a different world.
In essence, clothing is society.
Rip!
And as they tore off each other’s clothes…
The triplets felt the exhilaration of tearing apart those rules, those norms, and perhaps even society itself.
It was a feeling of liberation that words could hardly express.
At the same time, as their own clothes were torn and removed, they experienced a sense of freedom.
It felt as though the beastly nature they had been hiding beneath their clothing was awakening.
And they realized…
‘Ah… maybe humans and beasts are just separated by a thin layer of cloth.’
For so long, humanity had confined itself to the rules and norms—self-imposed censorship—that only brought unhappiness.
To truly be happy, humanity needed to throw off those suffocating rules and return to nature.
To live freely like animals!
Hahaha, haha, hahahaha….
“Ugh…”
Do Gyeon-woo, observing them in disgust, looked at the triplets with disdain and then furrowed his brows.
“How disgusting.”
It seemed like he had given up on the whole situation.
He rubbed his eyes with his hand.
Upon second thought, he realized that forcing a meeting like this wasn’t going to do him any good.
Thinking about it again, trying to force a connection like this won’t lead to anything good. We’ll get to know each other through natural interactions… Besides, if I reveal the truth later, it might be seen as deception.”
The people who were meant to become close would eventually become close.
Trying to artificially manipulate the relationship was pointless.
Having gotten excited by the prospect of meeting Kang Han-byul, Do Gyeon-woo managed to calm himself down.
“Yeah, I’ll just ask Lisa to introduce us. Good job, everyone.”
With a nonchalant expression, he encouraged the triplets, who were now lying exhausted on the floor, their clothes in tatters.
Do Gyeon-woo wore a satisfied look, clearly relieved.
Meanwhile, the triplets, now having regained their composure, stared at the ground with bitter expressions.
“Why…?”
“Why did we even do this…?”
“Yeah…”
On the other hand, Yeon-ha-neul was watching them with a cold, disappointed gaze.
She muttered under her breath, as though she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
“Why am I even friends with them…?”
A Missed Opportunity
Unfortunately, it couldn’t be helped.
Deciding to abandon the meeting event, I contacted Lisa that very day and asked her to introduce me to Kang Han-byul.
She kindly agreed to set up the meeting.
And so, the next day…
“Oh, Gyeon-woo. Over here!”
After finishing the morning classes, Min Ah-rin and I arrived at the cafeteria to meet Kang Han-byul.
Lisa waved at me, and around her, I could spot Yeon-ha-neul, Go Eun-bi, Yong Hae-rang, Park Sa-gun, and the triplets.
Finally, Kang Han-byul was there as well.
‘Finally, I get to see his face.’
His hair was a darker shade of brown than Go Eun-bi’s, and he had the kind of face that could only be described as handsome—bright, fresh, and striking.
I was able to face Kang Han-byul.
“Hey there!”
As soon as our eyes met, Kang Han-byul flashed a bright smile and greeted me.
Just as his character in the game would have.
He was cheerful and exuded confidence.
I set my tray down and sat, returning his greeting.
“Hey, I’m Do Gyeon-woo. I’ve been wanting to meet one of the Two-Devil’s disciples for a while, and I’m really glad to finally meet you.”
“Nice to meet you! I’m Kang Han-byul. I’ve heard about your family from Master, and I know you’re an incredible swordsman! You even got into the academy as the second-best, right? That’s impressive.”
“You must be good with weapons too, since you’re a disciple of the Two-Devil. You must be strong as well.”
Thankfully, nothing went wrong.
Kang Han-byul’s gaze was very friendly.
It seemed like we could get along.
I had a good feeling about this.
Just then…
“So, how about we have a sparring match after lunch to see who’s stronger?”
“Eh?”
It was a sudden challenge.
A bit abrupt, but that was very much like Kang Han-byul.
I blinked silently and then burst into laughter.
“Sure, sounds good. But if I win…”
“Oh, are we betting? Alright, I’m game! What’s the bet?”
“Give me your number.”
“Huh?”
This time, Kang Han-byul blinked in confusion.
Then, he burst into laughter.
“Alright, I’ll give you my number. But if I win, you give me yours.”
“Deal.”
The sparring was officially set.
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