Chapter 20: Red Lesson

Three children.
Three parents.

“So, what exactly is your point, teacher?”

Even after the homeroom teacher carefully explained the situation, the bully’s parents didn’t so much as twitch an eyebrow.

Worse still, they questioned what the problem was—as if none of it mattered.

The children, meanwhile, were busy giggling among themselves.

Not a trace of seriousness on any of their faces.

“When kids play, things happen. You’re saying that’s school violence now? And where are your parents? Why are you here making a fuss?”

The sparks flew at me.

As expected, they looked down on me—either because I looked young or because I had been quietly keeping my mouth shut.

“Yeah. I don’t have parents. That’s why I came.”

“W-what?! How dare you talk like that to me—!”

“You spoke informally first. I know you’re old, but that’s not a badge of honor. Why are you talking down to me? Is that what your parents taught you?”

Seeing the faces of the three parents twist in shock was strangely satisfying.

Ah, by the way, I’m actually pretty good at verbal fights.

In my past life, I’d been in a place not so different from the military—used to strict hierarchy—but ever since I was a kid, I was sharp-tongued.

Even my teammates didn’t dare talk back to me.

I nagged like an instructor.

“Hah, teacher. See what I mean? This is exactly why you shouldn’t put kids without parents in the same class. Honestly, this just ruins the school atmosphere.”

This time, it was an older-looking man pretending to be polite while spewing garbage.

Good thing I didn’t bring Jaeyul.

He would’ve had to listen to this nonsense.

“I’m glad you feel the same. I also don’t want our Jaeyul going to school with kids like yours. Why don’t you just transfer them out—unless you want this to get bigger.”

“Y-you brat! You little—!”

“What? You looked down on someone else’s child—so you should know yours can be looked down on too. If they don’t transfer, I’ll be filing for a bullying hearing.”

“Ha. All this over a bit of dirty laundry? Just wash it and it’s fine! You’re overreacting!”

No remorse.

I gave up trying to argue.

There was plenty more I could have said, but some things aren’t worth saying to people who can’t understand.

I reached into my backpack and pulled out a large container—fifteen liters.

“Sure, you can wash clothes. But what about the wounds left on a child’s heart? Can you wash those away too?”

I twisted the lid off the heavy container and lifted it high.

The parents stared, speechless, trying to figure out what I was about to do.

“Then why don’t you try it too?”

I raised the container above the loudest parent’s head—and dumped the liquid inside.

“Uaaagh!”

Scarlet liquid poured from the top of his head, soaking his face and expensive clothes completely.

For the record—it was real blood.

Monster’s blood.

“You psycho—!”

“What? You said washing makes everything fine. Said I was overreacting. This is just a little fun. What, not okay when it’s you?”

In an instant, the classroom floor turned red.

So this is what it takes—madness—to shut them up.

Finally, silence.

Even the giggling kids stopped, their faces hardening.

I looked at them and spoke.

“You all watch carefully. This is what happens because of you. Every time you act like brats, I’ll pay your parents back twice over.

If you hit Jaeyul, I’ll hit your parents.

If you make him cry, I’ll make sure their eyes bleed tears.

So watch yourselves.”

Just like they only care about their own children, so do I.

Even if the bullies are just kids, I don’t care about anyone who’s not mine.

Let them be shocked—it’s better they learn early.

Only then might they grow up and at least pretend to be human.

“Transfer them or not, I don’t care. But teacher—you’d better handle this properly. I’m not letting this go, even if you call it a mistake.”

I’ll make them regret this—deeply.

Using every means necessary.

“Y-you think we’ll let this slide, you punk?!”

“Do as you please. I’ve got nothing to lose. If this turns into a fight, I’ve got nothing at stake.”

The only ones with something to lose are people like them—those with status.

Let’s see how far they dare push it.

After saying my piece, I walked out of the classroom.

My disgust for humanity deepened.

Why is it so hard to find a decent person in this world?

Thinking about how people like that live pretending to be normal citizens made me want to kill my past self.

I spent my life fighting for monsters worse than demons.

“Ppoppi.”

“Arf!”

The little monster dog poked its head out of the bag.

I picked it up and headed toward the school parking lot.

After confirming there were no security cameras, I smiled.

Yeah. It’d be a waste to leave things like this.

“You caught their scent earlier, right?”

“Arf, arf!”

“Go pop the tires of every car that smells like them.”

Ppoppi, understanding perfectly, jumped down to the ground.

Its short legs moved quickly between cars.

Then—using its unnaturally long claws—it stabbed deep into the tires as it passed.

“…Good boy….”

With a hiss, one car sank.

Then another.

Then another.

Ppoppi strolled back after puncturing every tire.

“Arf!”

It wagged its tail, tongue out, pressing against my leg as if asking for praise.

“Good job. I’ll get you some beef at home.”

I scooped Ppoppi up and left like the wind.

He was small enough to slip under cars and out of view of any dashcams anyway—but better safe than sorry.

Wrecking those parents’ cars felt satisfying.

They said they wouldn’t transfer?

Then I’ll keep pushing until they do.

Anyone who makes my kid cry deserves to live crying blood.

Well… not my kid, exactly—but still.

“Hey, hyung.”

“Yeah, I’m here.”

“No! I mean—those kids. They transferred!”

I had decided to go to and from school with Jaeyul for a while—it might still feel unsafe for him.

The school had already called me earlier.

All the bullies had been transferred.

Even the homeroom teacher was being replaced.

The principal personally apologized to me.

All of it happened in less than a day since I’d caused a scene at the school.

The result was good—but I still felt oddly empty.

It was bitter knowing you have to raise hell just to avoid being hurt.

“I heard. So now you can go to school comfortably. If anyone ever bothers you again, tell me.”

“Y-yeah! My friends are happy too—those kids are gone.”

“Really…?”

Apparently, those kids had been infamous troublemakers.

Sixth graders acting like delinquent high schoolers—bullying other kids.

Guess I ended up serving justice after all.

Once again, I realized—your rights, you have to protect them yourself.

I’d make sure Jaeyul learned that clearly too.

“Jaeyul, from now on, if someone bullies you, don’t just take it.”

“…Then what? Should I hit them back?”

“Uh…?”

That was a tricky one.

I couldn’t tell him to use violence—but also couldn’t tell him to just get hit.

“I mean, you should at least be able to protect yourself. If you look strong, they won’t mess with you in the first place.”

“Hmm… yeah. That way I can protect you too, hyung….”

“What…? Protect who?”

“You, hyung. You’re not strong, so I’ll get stronger—carry stuff for you, and protect you.”

…Adorable, but mistaken.

Why would he think I’m weak?

If anything, I’m stronger than before—since my awakening.

Not as powerful as when I was a combat esper, but still.

“R-right. You do that. Fighting!”

Still—having motivation is a good thing.

“So, um, hyung…”

Jaeyul suddenly stopped walking and spoke carefully.

“What is it?”

“Can I go there…?”

He pointed across the street at a building.

Following his finger, I saw—

“Judo…? You—you want to learn judo?”

“…Yeah… but maybe it’s expensive…?”

His ears turned red—maybe embarrassed for even asking.

Honestly, just by looks alone, he didn’t seem the athletic type.

He looked more suited to music or art.

But maybe it was a good idea.

Training his body, practicing collisions with others—might help dull the old memories of being beaten by his father and others.

The more I thought about it, the better it sounded.

“No, it’s fine. Let’s do it. Judo. You’ll get strong and protect me, right?”

His eager little face was too cute to refuse.