Chapter 182: Appearance Fee (7)
Translator: Dreamscribe
[“Abilities exceeding the basic specs have been detected. Acquiring ‘Martial Arts’ first.”]
A familiar female voice echoed in the endlessly dark void space.
Martial Arts.
Really? Martial Arts? Kang Woojin’s lips curled up. It was the moment the void space was gifting him some ability again. Actually, Woojin had thought about it while reading the script of ‘Beneficial Evil’. ‘There are many action scenes, aren’t there?’ And so, he had some expectations.
Could something like action also be acquired?
But it wasn’t certain. The techniques used by the male lead in episodes 1 and 2 of ‘Beneficial Evil’ to subdue opponents, self-defense, martial arts, or violence were impressive, to say the least.
‘The past is unclear.’
The past of the male lead wasn’t clearly expressed in episodes 1 and 2 of ‘Beneficial Evil’. It might be explained as the episodes progress, but it was absent in the early parts. So, the techniques he used weren’t specifically described. They were shown in a rather indirect manner. In other words, less certain than languages, vocals, or cooking.
But still, now that he was going to possess everything about the character, the martial arts movements would be engraved, right? Woojin had thought.
But instead of just movements, he was going to acquire martial arts itself.
Kang Woojin, impressed anew by the capabilities of the void space, said this to the robotic female voice, though she would not respond.
“I don’t know what it is, but thank you for the martial arts.”
As if in response, the female voice spread throughout the void space.
[“Preparing for ‘Martial Arts’ reading……”]
[“……Preparation complete. ‘Martial Arts’ reading will now begin.”]
Soon, a vast gray swallowed Kang Woojin who was standing there. Despite having experienced it several times, Woojin could never quite get used to this moment. Everything turned from black to gray in an instant, a cool temperature, and a tingling sensation in his lower abdomen.
However.
“Oh. What’s this?”
This time, Kang Woojin was not floating in the gray space.
-Swish.
He could feel the ground. Or, was it the ground? Uncertain. But what was clear was that Woojin’s feet were indeed standing on this unpleasant gray surface. He could support his weight and walking was possible too.
Soon, Kang Woojin scanned the all-gray space.
“……”
It was silent. Nothing was happening. Woojin slightly tilted his head but bent over anyway. He swept the gray ground with his hand. It was strange. It was just gray, but the sensation felt like pushing away fine dirt.
That was when it happened.
-Swish.
A very short breeze brushed against the cheek of Kang Woojin, who was bending over. A sign of presence. He felt a chill on his forearm and slowly lifted his head.
“Ah, damn. That startled me.”
Someone was standing about five steps ahead.
No. Someone? Was it appropriate to describe it as someone? Woojin flinched slightly at the figure in front of him. The reason was simple. What stood before him was merely in the shape of a human silhouette. The height and build were almost similar to Kang Woojin’s. However, unlike Woojin, it had only one color.
Black.
From head to toe, entirely black. A shadow? Yes, it seemed appropriate to call it a shadow. It was as if Kang Woojin’s shadow was standing in front of him. That made Woojin lift his right arm, wondering if it would mimic him. If it did, it would really be a shadow. However.
“……Nope.”
The shadow did not move. What is this? Just as Woojin’s body tensed up.
“Oh?”
Suddenly, Woojin’s slightly stiffened body moved on its own, smoothly. It was a semi-forced feeling. Much like when he experienced (read) a role. Kang Woojin slowly approached the standing shadow, and was throwing a punch towards the black face that showed no expression.
However.
-Whoosh!
The shadow did not allow Kang Woojin’s punch. It grabbed the punch and, before the recoil could even finish, grabbed Woojin’s neck and tripped him. Kang Woojin fell onto the gray ground in an instant. There was no pain or discomfort. However, there were actions, and the perspective changed.
“……Huh?”
Kang Woojin’s body sprawled on the ground.
Surrounded by gray in all directions, it was confusing whether he was lying down or floating, but Woojin was definitely sprawled out, looking up at the ceiling. What just happened? The whole situation happened so suddenly that Kang Woojin couldn’t digest it right away. He just blinked his eyes. At that moment, Kang Woojin saw a shadow in his field of vision.
To be precise, it seemed like a black figure was looking down at Woojin, who was lying down.
And then.
-Swish.
The black figure slowly attaches itself to the lying Kang Woojin. It was merging with him. Soon, Woojin could feel it.
“Ah.”
Something was imprinted in his mind.
·
·
·
·
Afterwards, Kang Woojin.
-[9/Script (Title: Beneficial Evil), S+ Grade]
After obtaining ‘Martial Arts,’ he re-entered the world of ‘Beneficial Evil.’
[“‘A: Jang Yeon-woo’ reading preparation in progress……”]
[“……Preparation complete. It is a script or scenario with very high completeness. The realization rate is 100%. Reading will now begin.”]
‘Jang Yeon-woo’ was the name in ‘Beneficial Evil.’
The world and weather he saw changed.
The sun was so hot that sweat was pouring out. There, Kang Woojin stood. The sweltering heat felt on his forearms and head was clear. The sunlight was direct, making it dazzling to the eyes.
Suddenly, numerous things were instilled into Woojin.
Kang Woojin realized that there was a sweet taste in his mouth. He raised his right hand and took out what was in his mouth. It was a pink lollipop. Strawberry flavor, perhaps? Ah, yes. Woojin was aware that his head was filled with thoughts of cigarettes.
“Tch.”
He wanted to smoke. He badly wanted to smoke a cigarette. Such desire and irritation filled Woojin’s head. It was natural. Emotions, senses, mood, and this world were forcibly injected into him. Yes, this was a different reality.
And Kang Woojin was ‘Jang Yeon-woo.’
Jang Yeon-woo was wearing a suit in this heat. It felt snugly fit but without a tie. Sweat trickled down inside his shirt. It was sticky and unpleasant. Woojin sighed deeply.
“Ha- Summer, it’s hell.”
The tone of his voice was moderately deep. ‘Jang Yeon-woo’ was not overdone. There wasn’t particularly anything that stood out. Ordinary short hair and build. He frowned deeply, but it was a common expression. No, rather, he even looked dazed. He was ordinary.
Except for one thing.
His eyes contained a lot.
Strangely deep. It was threatening and danger lurked in them. Then, Woojin scanned his surroundings. He was inside a fairly large apartment complex.
That’s when.
-DooDooDooDoo!!
A foreign car with a peculiar engine sound whizzed past Woojin, capturing the attention of the people inside the apartment complex due to its bizarre noise. The foreign car stopped right next to the entrance of the underground parking lot. It was not a place where parking was allowed.
“……”
Yawning widely, Kang Woojin carefully observed the foreign car. Meanwhile, an elderly security guard, who even at a glance appeared kind, noticed the foreign car while picking up trash.
“Hey there. You can’t park your car there.”
The elderly security guard moved towards the foreign car. At the same time, the driver’s door of the foreign car opened. A man in a tight short-sleeved shirt and shorts stepped out. His bulky body was covered in tattoos. Soon, the tattooed man and the elderly security guard locked eyes.
The elderly security guard seemed to recognize the tattooed man, flinching but eventually spoke up.
“……Boss~nim.”
The tattooed man approached the security guard with a menacing face.
“What now.”
“I’m sorry, but. If you park here, it causes inconvenience to the residents. Could you please move your car?”
The tattooed man, who was abruptly scratching his head, began to get excited.
“This fucker! The old fart is going crazy again. Huh, wasn’t it enough getting scolded last time??”
“No, that’s not it.”
“What do you mean no- Do I look like a joke to you? I mean, it’s my house, and I’m parking my car, why are you meddling?”
“It’s because the residents… are inconvenienced.”
“What! Am I blocking the entrance to the parking lot? Look! There’s enough space to pass by! Ah- I’m really pissed off. Today’s been shitty enough!! Hey old man, do you want to stop living?? Huh?!!”
“……”
“Fucker, I pay your salary with my money, huh? What’s your name? You’re in big trouble now. Give me your number! I’ll make sure to shake you down to your soul.”
The tattooed man, now flushed with anger, pushes the elderly security guard’s shoulder. The atmosphere suggests this isn’t their first encounter; it feels natural. The man forcibly took the phone from the pocket of the pushed security guard, entered his number, and learned the security guard’s number.
In the midst of their squabble, the security guard tripped and fell.
“Ouch.”
The tattooed man drops the confiscated phone onto the chest of the fallen elderly security guard.
“Answer the phone when I call, got it? I’ll make you suffer as much as I’m annoyed. Just try not answering. I’ll go straight to the management office and make sure you’re fired. And don’t overstep? I don’t care whether you’re old or not. Huh?”
The man kicks and slaps the fallen security guard, issuing a threatening warning. The violence becomes more apparent with many onlookers. He then yelled at the gathering residents with malice.
“What are you looking at!! Huh?!! Go on, get lost!!”
It was a display of power. Then, the tattooed man sneers at the elderly security guard struggling to get up.
“Geez, making a fuss.”
It was when the man was about to push the security guard’s shoulder again.
“Living is tough, huh? Just stay down. Why bother getting u-ack!!”
-Whack!
The bulky man suddenly flew through the air and slammed his head against the door of his car.
“Cough!!!”
An unexpected blow. Someone had kicked the tattooed man in the side. Consequently, the tattooed man, clutching his abdomen and head, looked straight ahead. A man in a suit, one hand in his pocket, was standing there.
‘Jang Yeon-woo’. In other words, Kang Woojin.
Woojin found the tattooed man utterly insignificant. Less than a bug. Nonchalantly rolling a candy in his mouth, Woojin’s eyes were utterly unbothered. He simply looked down at the tattooed man while sucking on the candy.
Soon.
“You fucking bastard! What the hell are you!!”
The tattooed man, enduring the pain, quickly got up. Woojin tilts his head slightly while scanning the man from head to toe. He’s a bit taller than him. Probably weighs at least 20kg more. But he’s utterly defenseless.
Kang Woojin, removing the candy from his mouth, said softly.
“Why do you need to know, pork soup.”
Provoking carelessness and bravado.
“……You son of a bitch!! You’re dead today!”
Stride by stride, the tattooed man approached Woojin without hesitation. In a moment, Kang Woojin’s eyes quickly scanned from his chin to his neck and all over his body. The vital points were clear. The man was unaware that his weaknesses were exposed. Less than a bug. Knocking him out would be easy. Even killing him if it came to it.
However, that would be wrong.
At this moment, the tattooed man, puffing with aggression, swung his thick fist at Woojin. To Kang Woojin, it seemed like slow motion. Slow. Right-handed. No technique. Just a punch filled with momentum. No, that was more like a dance. It lacked force. Since he didn’t use his legs or waist, that was expected.
You know if you hit someone like that, you’ll break your hand?
-Whoosh!
Woojin easily deflected the man’s approaching fist. His punch fell powerlessly. The man looked panicked. However, Kang Woojin gave him no chance to recover. He immediately grabbed the back of the tattooed man’s neck with one hand, exerting a grip strong enough to tear it off.
The tattooed man’s waist bent helplessly at 90 degrees, and he spat out groans of intense pain.
“Kugughgh!! Kuhuk!! Kkeuk!”
Drool dribbled from his mouth. Woojin, bending down to the man’s face, locked eyes with him for a few seconds, expressionless.
Then.
-Swish.
Woojin took the phone from the man’s shorts, deleted the security guard’s number he had entered, and said,
“Go.”
He said this simply to the elderly security guard standing right in front with wide-open eyes.
“Just leave it to me and go back to what you were doing.”
“……Ah- Uh? Oh, but still.”
“Go, you’re getting in the way.”
“Huh?”
His tone wasn’t gentle. Kang Woojin was actually bothered by the security guard in front of him. I am not ‘justice’. So, I have no reason to receive your gratitude.
“I said go.”
I too am ‘evil’. I merely targeted another evil. Soon, Kang Woojin’s heart was filled with darkness. Such emotions were pervasive.
The elderly security guard hesitantly moved away.
Regardless, the tattooed man, whose nape was caught by Woojin, continued to rage, his waist still bent.
“Kkueoeouk!! Hey!! Kkeuk! Let go!! Let go!!! Kkeok!!”
The bug is unbearably noisy. Woojin was annoyed. Thanks to that, more strength went into his grip.
“Kuaak!!”
At that moment.
-Thud!
A woman got out from the passenger side of the yellow foreign car, sobbing.
“Ple-Please, please stop! My brother will die!!”
She cried out to the people around.
“Someone, please!! Stop him!!”
But no one stepped forward. On the other hand, Woojin, who had been staring at the newly arrived woman, slightly relaxed his grip. Not completely, but just enough to let the tattooed man wriggle free on his own.
“Khuh!! Fuck! Fuck!!!”
Coughing, the tattooed man moved a few steps away, with the woman who came with him clinging to his side.
“Are you okay, brother?!”
“……Fine, I’m fine! It’s nothing!!”
He slightly pushed the woman away. Woojin, who had been silently watching the man, smiled.
“Beating is good remedy for you.”
“What, what the fuck, you bastard??!!”
Intention. Everything was within Kang Woojin’s calculation. The man thought he had freed himself from Woojin’s grip on his own. Or, he was led to believe so. This illusion turned into a frail confidence. There was a woman by his side that he needed to protect. His pride was hurt. People had gathered around, showing off their strength. There were many watching eyes. Yet, he was ignored.
All of this transformed into adrenaline.
The tattooed man lost his reason. His thought process couldn’t function properly.
‘Well, it’s an overcalculation for such an insignificant bug.’
It doesn’t matter. Kang Woojin, ‘Jang Yeon-woo’, applies the same plan to all ‘evils’. There’s no complacency. Always thorough. Soon, the tattooed man, planning to use his bulk, spread his arms and rushed at Woojin.
-Tatat!
He intended to entangle.
However.
“Are you crazy in this heat.”
Woojin, muttering low, lightly struck the inner thigh of the man’s groin with his foot.
“Kkeuk!!!”
The momentum of the bear-like charge deflated instantly.
“······Kkueo- uuugh.”
The man, clutching his groin, knelt down. Yet, Woojin, as if it wasn’t over, approached the slightly trembling man, grabbed his hair, and lifted him up.
“Recklessness with violence. Get’s you a beating.”
Woojin carelessly slapped the tattooed man’s right cheek.
-Slap!!
With just one hit, the man’s pupils shook. He was dazed. That was the extent of the force. But Woojin didn’t stop.
-Slap slap slap slap!!
He continued to slap the tattooed man. With each hit, blood splattered on the man’s face, but Woojin, with a smile on his lips, just rhythmically slapped the man’s cheek.
-Slap slap slap slap slap slap!!
Before long, a fierce madness filled Kang Woojin’s deep eyes.
“The sound is crisp, pork soup.”
Because he was enjoying it.
*****
