Free Web NovelOn February 25th, 1993, the new government of President Kim Mansam, the first civilian president not from the military, was officially launched.
To distinguish itself from the previous administration, President Kim Mansam’s government immediately disclosed the wealth of the president and his family and pressured high-ranking public officials to do the same.
The Cheongpunghoe, by now, was likely adopting a passive stance and quietly observing the new president’s movements.
Meanwhile, the spring of the new year was arriving for me as well.
“It’s truly an honor to speak before all of you entering Korea University.”
Good to see you again, that guy.
Lee Hansoo, advisor to Koryeo Ilbo.
The mouthpiece of the Cheongpunghoe. The megaphone of the Cheongpunghoe.
One of the members of the Cheongpunghoe I was familiar with.
“At last, the military regime has ended, and a new civilian government has been established. It is the power and the will of the people. You are the elite of the Republic of Korea, and I hope you’ll devote yourselves fully to the country. We must ensure that military rule never returns to this land.”
Back then, I hadn’t known.
This journalist, once hailed as a democratic activist under the military regime—
Lee Hansoo—was actually part of the Cheongpunghoe.
His speech, which went on for quite a while, finally came to an end.
Myungsoo, next to me, yawned as he spoke.
“Haa~ Man, that guy talks a lot. What are you doing today?”
“Nothing planned. Why?”
“Wanna hit up Apgujeong-dong together?”
“······Didn’t I say I’m not drinking with you again?”
“I already said that was a mistake! I won’t do it again. Let’s go!”
“All you think about is partying. Aren’t you supposed to be studying for the bar exam? What about our promise?”
“I am studying! I told you I’d pass the first round of the bar exam within two years! Just let me have some fun today!”
* * *
A month ago, at Myungsoo’s place in Seoul—
“Help me out. I’ve got something I’m trying to achieve, and it’s connected to this. I need your help.”
Once the mood grew serious, Myungsoo and Hyunseong straightened their posture and focused on my words.
“What? Why so serious?”
“Mm.”
I briefly explained the background behind my plan.
“I’m going to investigate the deaths of my parents. They say it was a robbery-murder, but the culprits were never caught, and the fact that my grandfather didn’t even know Mom had died—it’s suspicious.”
“······.”
Myungsoo and Hyunseong looked at each other.
They knew I lost my parents young, but I had never talked about it like this before.
“So first, I plan to find the people who killed my mom and dad. And whoever’s behind it—no matter who it is—I’ll fight them to the end.”
Myungsoo looked at me and spoke.
“So you’re saying there’s some kind of conspiracy behind their deaths? And you want us to help dig it up and catch the bastards?”
“Yeah. It’ll be easier with your help. Will you?”
But Myungsoo said something completely different from what I’d hoped.
“‘Help you,’ my ass.”
Hyunseong nodded in agreement.
“This asshole, acting all cool and noble by himself. Hey! Muhyuk! Damn it, your parents are my parents, and my parents are yours. What do you mean ‘help you’? Of course we’re doing this together. Right, Hyunseong?”
“Of course.”
“Shit! You scared me.”
Myungsoo laughed at me clutching my chest.
“Alright then, what do you need us to do?”
“First, I’m planning to build up my strength while working under my grandfather. Even if it takes time, I want to take revenge with my own hands. And I think my uncles were likely involved.”
Their eyes widened in surprise.
“Your uncles? Your mom’s brothers?”
“Yeah. If # Nоvеlight # they weren’t involved, there’s no way Grandpa wouldn’t have found out about Mom’s death. Someone had to block the news. The only ones who could do that are the uncles... maybe just one of them, maybe both.”
“Hmm...”
“So I don’t have time to take the bar exam. By the time I pass and finish training at the Judicial Research and Training Institute, years will have flown by. It’s more important to earn my grandfather’s trust right now.”
“Then why’d you even come to law school?”
“First, to win over Grandpa. Second, to meet the right people.”
“Damn, some people can’t even dream of getting in here...”
Myungsoo gave a small laugh.
“So what do you need me to do?”
“First, pass the bar exam as quickly as possible. Once you’re in the institute, no matter how your grades turn out, become a prosecutor. Help me from the inside.”
“Shit. Like passing the bar is just something you do because you want to. I can’t just say I’ll do it and magically become a prosecutor, you know?”
“You’ll manage. I believe in you.”
I knew he’d manage.
In my last life, after he became crippled, Myungsoo vanished from Busan.
I saw him again—on TV.
He entered Korea University, passed the bar in three years, and became a prosecutor.
From there, he became famous for cracking down on gangsters.
Years later, he brought down the father and son who crippled him—Hong Jinpyo and Prosecutor Hong—and then disappeared after quitting his job.
The Mad Dog Prosecutor. The Gangbuster. The No-Brakes Prosecutor.
Those were Lee Myungsoo’s nicknames.
“So what, am I supposed to thank you for believing in me? Phew... my golden college years are over. Just gone.”
Hyunseong looked at me.
“And you, Hyunseong...”
I explained what he would need to do as well.
I couldn’t reveal everything, but having friends I could move forward with made me feel more secure. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
* * *
“Huh? Oh, Muhyuk! Let’s go to Apgujeong-dong!”
“Ha... fine, but just a couple drinks, alright?”
“Of course!”
Seeing Myungsoo grin from ear to ear at the mention of Apgujeong-dong, I couldn’t help but smile too.
“Hey! Kim Muhyuk!”
A sharp female voice rang out behind me.
Turning around, I saw someone running over. Myungsoo gave her a polite nod.
But the girl didn’t even glance at him—her glare was fixed solely on me.
“Why didn’t you come to the orientation meetup?”
“Orientation?”
“You know, the gathering for new students before the entrance ceremony. To get to know your classmates and greet the upperclassmen. We sent out the info. The guy next to you came—so why didn’t you?”
“I thought it was optional.”
So she’s a student council upperclassman.
“Ha, this one’s funny. Just because you got a perfect score and ranked first nationwide, you don’t need friends, is that it?”
“I heard more than half the law students didn’t attend. I couldn’t go because I had something important. But I’ll be at the welcome party, the OT, and the MT. That should be enough, right?”
“Pfft... I’ll see you at the welcome party.”
She glared one more time before turning and walking away.
I leaned toward Myungsoo and whispered,
“Who was that?”
“A second-year upperclassman.”
“Did everyone else go except me?”
“Uhh, not even half showed up.”
“Then why’d she come at me like that?”
“No idea. Maybe she wants your attention. Whatever. Let’s go to Apgujeong already.”
“What did you guys even do at the meetup?”
“Not much. Said hi to each other, greeted some second-years, got familiar. Then we grabbed dinner and drinks at a place nearby. That’s it.”
“Sounds boring.”
“Forget it. Let’s move. If we’re late, it’ll be packed.”
Apgujeong-dong, in the early ‘90s, was the sacred land of youth.
Rock cafés, nightclubs—it was the mecca of entertainment. Home to the so-called Orange Tribe and Kkinkkang Tribe.
Though we arrived before sunset, the streets were already jammed with cars. We circled for a while before finally finding a spot and parking.
“Man, smell that youth in the air! This place is alive!”
“What do you want to eat?”
“Anything quick. Then let’s check out that rock café. Supposed to be amazing. I forget the name, but it’s around here.”
“Phew... Fine. Go out tonight, study tomorrow. Got it?”
“Got it! Man, gotta relieve stress now and then. Studying nonstop will kill me.” freeωebnovēl.c૦m
“Two years. You’ve got two years.”
“Ah, come on! Enough nagging!”
After grabbing a quick bite at a nearby diner, we headed to the rock café.
There was already a line forming to get in.
“Hurry up!”
Myungsoo excitedly rushed to the line, and I followed.
Quite a few people were being turned away at the entrance. A staff member looked over me and Myungsoo and said,
“Head up to the third floor.”
“Thank you very much!”
We headed up to the third floor together.
Inside, the blaring music thundered. People stood at their tables, dancing with drinks in hand.
We were guided to a seat.
A smile never left Myungsoo’s face as he looked around the place.
“There’s nothing like this in Busan, you know. Unlike nightclubs, here people just get up and dance at their tables, do their own thing. It’s like the next evolution of nightlife.”
“Yeah?”
“Look, everyone’s up and dancing. No waiters, no forced bookings—just a free, natural vibe.”
Myungsoo was praising this place as something more advanced than nightclubs.
But that wasn’t true.
Rock cafés were cleverly exploiting legal loopholes to operate.
The moment a raid happened, the fancy lights and deafening music would vanish, and the place would magically turn into a “restaurant.”
Sure, the atmosphere was freer—probably because most of the patrons were college students.
In my previous life, I never came to places like this even once during my university years, so it felt awkward.
Myungsoo was already on his feet, moving to the beat.
I stayed seated, sipping my drink, watching him dance.
Then he spoke to me.
“You just gonna sit there?”
“Yeah, I’ll drink a bit more first.”
At that, he turned his attention back to the crowd and kept dancing.
He was chatting with the girls at the next table, throwing out some dumb jokes and laughing, while I stayed quietly in my seat, just drinking.
“What’s this? I thought you were a model student. Didn’t expect to see you at a place like this. Interesting.”
I turned toward the voice and saw a familiar face.
That upperclassman who had snapped at me earlier.
“What, nothing to say? Feeling awkward now that you got caught?”
“Do I need to answer?”
“Oh, so you’ve got time to hang out here but not enough time to show up to school events?”
“I manage my own time. If you came out to have fun, you should just have fun.”
A few girls at her table looked at me, then turned to her and asked,
“Who’s that? He’s hot.”
“Oh, he’s just some annoying underclassman.”
“Law school?”
“Yup.”
“Wow, that face and law school?”
“Wait... I’ve seen him before. Where was it?”
“Probably on TV.”
“TV?”
“Last year’s national top scorer. You know, the smug kid who said ‘Studying is easy’?”
“Oh! That insane guy?”
...What the hell is wrong with these people?
One of the girls in her group, seeing the look on my face, quickly apologized.
“Oh, sorry. That came out without thinking.”
“It’s fine. Don’t mind me. I’ll be leaving soon anyway.”
“Don’t say that—why don’t you hang out with us?”
“No thanks. Like I said, I’m leaving soon.”
At that, the girls gave the upperclassman pleading looks.
“Come on, just join us. What about your friend?”
“I’ll do whatever Muhyuk wants to do.”
Thanks to Myungsoo stepping back like that, I had no choice but to be polite.
“...Alright. We’ll stay a bit, then head out. Please, have a seat.”
Three of them sat down across from us.
“So, your name’s Kim Muhyuk, and you’re Lee Myungsoo?”
“Yes.”
“Hey, speak casually. I’m Lee Sujeong, that’s Hong Seoyeon, and I don’t need to introduce her, right?”
“Song Yuri.”
“Nice to meet you.”
I looked at Myungsoo with disbelief. He avoided my gaze.
“...I’m Kim Muhyuk.”
We all lifted our beer bottles and started drinking, keeping it casual.
“You two friends from way back?”
“Yes, we’ve known each other since we were kids.”
“We’re like that too. Me, Seoyeon, and Yuri—we’ve been in the same schools since elementary.”
Sujeong led most of the conversation, with Myungsoo eagerly playing along.
“Is Muhyuk always this quiet? Why’s he just sitting there?”
“He acts all serious, but he’s actually just shy. That’s all.”
“Your dialect is so cute!”
“Really?”
“Yeah! I’ve only lived in Seoul, so I think dialects are adorable. What about you, Muhyuk? Don’t you use dialect?”
“He’s a weirdo. Just ignore him.”
“Why? He’s handsome. That makes up for everything. He can be stoic. It’s fine—he’s allowed.”
“Stop it. Don’t tease the kids like that.”
The senior, Yuri, scolded Sujeong.
“What? I’m just being honest.”
Then, someone called out to them from behind.
“Oh~ Yuri, Sujeong, Seoyeon! Look who’s all here!”
The voice was painfully familiar.
Turning around—of course. It was Cheon Jiwon.
“What the hell? Why is this asshole here?”
Startled at the sight of me, Jiwon instinctively stepped back—then quickly put on an act and glared at me.
“You were playing all innocent, and now you're out drinking already? God, poor kids without money...”
“Oppa! That’s too much!”
Sujeong stood up and shouted at him.
But Jiwon just sneered.
“You girls too—what are you doing hanging out with guys like this? You really lowered your standards. Didn’t you always act like you were high-class?”
“What?”
Sujeong glared daggers at him.
Great. Another fight brewing.
Why does this always happen when I try to have a drink?
“Hyung, can we not?”
I tried to stop him.
But that dumb bastard Jiwon only got cockier.
“What? Didn’t I tell you not to call me hyung?”
“Fine, Jiwon. Chill out already.”
“What, Jiwon? You trying to act like you’re on my level now?”
“Whatever. We’re leaving. Let’s go, Myungsoo. Ladies, let’s get out of here.”
“Huh? Oh. Yeah, let’s.”
Myungsoo stood, and the girls grabbed their bags and coats.
“Leaving already? Kim Muhyuk, you really want to die?”
This guy’s gotten gutsy. What happened to the scaredy-cat?
“You tell me not to call you hyung, but when I call you by name you freak out—what am I supposed to do? Honestly, I’m embarrassed to even know you. Let’s just pretend we don’t exist to each other.”
“Hahaha. You crazy bastard. Guess you need a beating today. Hey! Hyunwoo!”
At Jiwon’s call, three guys approached.
So he had backup.
“What? We were having fun. Why’d you call us? What’s going on? Who’s this guy?”
“Rough him up. I’ll cover the whole night.”
“What are we, thugs?”
“You don’t want to?”
With three more added to his side, Jiwon was clearly in high spirits.
The guys sighed, annoyed.
“Fine. We’ll rough him up just a bit. You clean up the mess. Got it?”
“Don’t worry. It’s not the first time, right?”
So that’s it... Cheon Jiwon, you pathetic piece of trash.
“Myungsoo, take the girls outside. I’ll talk to these guys.”
“You sure?”
“I’m Kim Muhyuk. Remember?”
“It’s not that, just... don’t go too far.”
Myungsoo took the girls and left.
“You really think you’re something, huh? So what, you gonna take us all on?”
The three sighed and started walking toward me.
“Sorry, man. Jiwon’s always like this.”
“I know. You’re Cheon Jiwon’s loyal little dogs, right?”
“...You little shit!”
The one called Hyunwoo snapped and lunged at me.
< A New Beginning, 1993 > End.
