One week.

  The time spent skipping classes properly came with a stinging price. Besides his parents' scrutiny, keeping up with the coursework was quite bothersome even for Jihyeon.

  Fortunately, he managed to get away with only assignments by explaining that he had various circumstances, but Jihyeon had to suffer quite a bit because of it.

  Of course, the difficulty level itself was not a problem. There were no assignments too difficult for Jihyeon's abilities.

  But the people who gave the assignments all demanded handwritten submission. Jihyeon was furious, thinking this was an act full of malice, but whatever the reason, skipping class was his fault.

  Thanks to that, Jihyeon's appearance, painstakingly writing the assignments by hand as if he had no choice, looked somehow pitiful. Some would surely feel a sense of shared misery, seeing him look like someone working overtime to make up for unavoidable work.

  If the professors and instructors who gave the assignments were to know Jihyeon's achievements, what kind of expressions would they make?

  Jihyeon had completely crushed one drug-selling organization and reduced its Boss to a complete wreck. At the same time, he forced the surrender of the Master of the largest local organization.

  And he did it based on an overwhelming difference in power that ordinary humans couldn't even imagine. Jihyeon was already recognized by them as something non-human.

  Perhaps it was a test. A test proving that the existence of Jihyeon was no longer that of an ordinary college student.

  If they knew of such an achievement, they would probably look at Jihyeon with eyes full of fear. Perhaps they might treat Jihyeon with respect.

  Of course, they might still think of him as just one student in their class. Naturally, Jihyeon would prefer the last case.

  But unfortunately, there was no such person. The people Jihyeon saw were mostly ordinary citizens, and some were broken due to distortions they didn't even realize themselves.

  In any case, their evaluation of him was meaningless right now.

  What was important other than the fact that the punishment handed down to Jihyeon was utterly harsh?

  They commanded Jihyeon. They would overlook the crime of carelessly skipping class with the submission of handwritten assignments. That was a truly fatal obstacle for Jihyeon.

  How long had it been since he wrote an assignment by hand? He used a computer for all the long writing assignments he did throughout elementary, middle, and high school.

  So, writing something long by hand was a very unfamiliar act for Jihyeon.

  Furthermore, Jihyeon was not particularly good at writing. His handwriting was one of the things he didn't want to show off. But now, while filling the paper, Jihyeon was realizing with certainty how close his handwriting was to being the worst.

  It was a source of shame.

  Jihyeon was not a foolish narcissist who would admire the artistic form of his own handwriting.

  Naturally, enduring the shame and writing was nothing but pain. Moreover, because he was not used to the act of writing itself, Jihyeon's muscles kept screaming in protest.

  Constantly massaging his wrist, Jihyeon agonized, wondering when this tedious work would end.

  Still, an end always existed. Focusing intensely, like building a house of cards, Jihyeon wrote with all his effort until he put down the pen.

  "Done."

  Jihyeon declared the completion of the assignment in a dying voice, as if he had seen the end of the world. It was a sound that no one in the library would hear, but it was a declaration of victory.

  "Hoo..."

  Sighing, Jihyeon got up from his seat. Now, he didn't need to write by hand. His assignment, written at a typical undergraduate level, would surely not raise any suspicion.

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  "Now it's over."

  Jihyeon, having submitted all the assignments, felt a sense of liberation as he walked out of the school gate. While internally complaining that this was excessive for a hero who saved his family, Jihyeon was pleased with the fact that he had overcome another difficulty.

  "Still, it would be fortunate if things ended with something like this..."

  Jihyeon said that and headed home. Due to recent events, going straight home if possible had become Jihyeon's new daily routine.

  It seemed his parents were quite worried because he had been going around even skipping classes. He didn't want to worry his parents unnecessarily.

  It was natural since he hadn't told them what had happened. But since it wasn't something he could talk about, there was nothing he could do.

  "Can I talk to you for a moment?"

  Someone spoke to Jihyeon from behind him. It was the weighty voice characteristic of a middle-aged man.

  Even though Jihyeon had never heard the voice, he immediately knew who it was.

  "Didn't you declare that you wouldn't get involved with me?"

  Jihyeon smiled wryly, looked at the man who had stopped him, and spoke.

  "Even at this age, curiosity exists."

  The Master, the head of the organization, just said that and smiled.

  It's not unusual for people to talk in a coffee shop.

  A coffee shop is a place where various words are exchanged, from trivial small talk to serious business discussions.

  But the story changes slightly if a person's presence alone can change the atmosphere.

  Just by being near, people know.

  They shouldn't approach that person. The Master was that kind of person.

  A man who had lived in the back alleys for a long time possessed a unique aura of experience, no matter how hard he tried to hide it.

  Of course, a person lacking curiosity and keen observation might just think he was a well-built middle-aged man, but those who were cautious would know.

  It's best to avoid him.

  Thanks to that, everyone in the coffee shop was being cautious. They were glancing around in a subtle tension.

  But such an atmosphere meant nothing to Jihyeon, who was sitting across from the Master. To him, the Master was no longer a man who could harm him.

  If he had thought the Master would bother Jihyeon's family or Jihyeon himself, he would have taken him down immediately. However, Jihyeon knew that the Master hadn't come here for that purpose.

  More than anything, the fact that he came without any escort made his sincerity trustworthy.

  "There are quite a few interesting things in the world. I grasped the situation from a photo, but seeing you in person feels completely different."

  The Master spoke to Jihyeon in a friendly voice. It seemed he was genuinely curious about Jihyeon.

  "Then did you think I was some kind of god?"

  Jihyeon smiled and said that. But considering what Jihyeon had actually done, it wouldn't be strange to see him that way.

  "Could an ordinary person do that alone? I don't think so."

  Jihyeon said nothing to the Master's words. Instead, Jihyeon asked.

  "I don't think you came just to see my face. You came because of something, didn't you? Since you decided to leave me alone, I thought you wouldn't do anything bothersome."

  Jihyeon said that and checked the Master's information.

  "Sharp, aren't you? So, about that..."

  The Master seemed to think that Jihyeon was someone he could talk to based on his reaction, and he started to speak. But Jihyeon cut him off and asked again.

  "How much are you offering?"

  The Master wore a blank expression at Jihyeon's words. But after a moment, he laughed heartily and said.

  "How did you know what I was going to talk about?"

  The Master asked Jihyeon with a curious expression.

  "Isn't that how business is done?"

  Jihyeon replied nonchalantly as if it were nothing. But he had already confirmed everything.

  "Well, I'll be... Doing this without even knowing what the job is. Scary, isn't it?"

  The Master said that but didn't leave his seat. Instead, he looked around and spoke quietly.

  "I know you have a connection with that woman. I know a tiny bit about the power you possess."

  Jihyeon nodded at the Master's words.

  "Shouldn't there be a cleanup? In fact, I know that as long as we don't touch your family, whatever business we do, your side won't interfere with us. But that's separate from this, isn't it?"

  The Master said that and leaned back in his chair. Jihyeon merely sighed lightly at his words.

  "Does it interfere with your business that much?"

  Jihyeon asked as if he knew nothing. Of course, even if one knows everything, one sometimes has to respond nonchalantly.

  "More than interference... those crazy guys keep taking our guys. I just don't know what they're thinking."

  Jihyeon sighed at the Master's words. He knew what the Master would ask him to do. And there was no lie in what the Master was saying.

  However, Jihyeon also knew that the cause of the conflict was the Master's side in the first place. But there was no reason to mention it.

  "So, what do you want me to do? I'm not a hitman."

  Jihyeon said that, but he began to consider numerous possibilities. It was not a pleasant task.

  "But I wouldn't normally say this, but the one who newly rose to power on that side has the same power as you. Furthermore..."

  The Master stammered, clearly reluctant to continue. Jihyeon then asked again, as if frustrated.

  "So, how much will you pay?"

  The Master laughed and replied to Jihyeon's question.

  "I'll pay enough so you won't be disappointed."

  The Master said that and seemed somewhat relieved. He seemed to think that Jihyeon had accepted his request. Of course, that wasn't entirely wrong, but Jihyeon didn't particularly like it.

  However, Jihyeon felt that he would ultimately have to handle this matter. The legacy left by the cult leader was something much more bothersome than he thought.

  "Let's look into it a bit more and then talk. Although I really don't want to get involved in your organization's internal fight."

  Jihyeon said that and got up from his seat. And he added one more word before going outside.

  "From now on, always travel with an escort. And wear a bulletproof vest."

  The Master looked bewildered at Jihyeon's words, but after a moment, he laughed heartily.

  "Interesting. Yes... Then it's settled."

  Muttering some incomprehensible words, the Master got up from his seat with a satisfied expression.