The Law of Webnovels - Chapter 517

Chapter 517: Chapter 517

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Ban Hwee Hyul, who had been silent, finally changed the look in his eyes and growled. It meant that Jung Yohan hit a nerve.
“Are you done talking?”
“In the end, it was not you but me who avenged Ban Hwee Ahn’s incident!” yelled Jung Yohan out of the blue.
Ban Hwee Hyul stopped roaring. His eyes widened.
Jung Yohan opened his arms and yelled, “So, you might have got that I would have the original photo I sent you. And that’s why you’re here. But I’ve already taken care of them on behalf of you who have the power to correct everything but does nothing.”
While Ban Hwee Hyul turned stiff wordlessly, Jung Yohan struck a cold retort.
“If I’m trash, so are you. It’s my turn to take your position, so get out of my way.”
Looking at the confrontation between the two, I swallowed my breath. As I threw a glance at the stage, Eun Hyung also seemed to be asking for advice, looking at us. However, no one dared to come forward.
Jung Yohan, of course, wasn’t right since he exacted revenge on those who attacked Ban Hwee Ahn.
However, Jung Yohan told Ban Hwee Hyul that he was also the same. That was true. If Ban Hwee Ahn was a bit more active in correcting the lower-ranked fighters’ wrongdoings, neither Ban Hwee Ahn nor Jung Yohan would have been involved in such troubles.
Deciding who was right and wrong in the situation was just the same as asking the chicken and egg question. Thus, there was nothing we could do right now. This thing should be left for the two to resolve on their own.
As if he also thought the same, Eun Hyung looked up at Ban Hwee Hyul.
“Hwee Hyul,” said Eun Hyung, “If you want to take the Number one title from me, please do. I guess I can’t fight anymore.”
“Let’s do that, but wait a minute… before that, I want to say something,” uttered Ban Hwee Hyul in a low voice.
“Say something?”
Not only Eun Hyung but we all looked at Ban Hwee Hyul in wonder too. Was there anything else left to say in this situation? In the end, the words he said to Jung Yohan in the past also weren’t acceptable anyway.
At that moment, Ban Hwee Hyul opened his mouth with his eyes fixed on Jung Yohan.
“Let me ask you first. Wasn’t it on Sunday when I saved you?”
“What? Why on earth would you ask that? Does it make you different by day?”
Jung Yohan was sarcastic as if he became speechless. So was I. ‘Hwee Hyul, if you couldn’t sort things out, just don’t say anything…’ I said in my thoughts, looking at Hwee Hyul pathetically.
Meanwhile, Jung Yohan nodded, “Yeah, it was Sunday. What’s wrong with that?”
“At that time, there was a comedy program that aired every Sunday evening. It was a program I enjoyed watching a lot.”
I became even more puzzled when I heard that. Why was he talking about a comedy program out of the blue? At that moment, for some reason, Jung Yohan’s face turned pale.
“Hold on, just don’t say anymore. Something very ominous came up in mind…”
“No! I must tell you. If you’re getting me wrong, I think I have to correct that.”
“Just don’t!”
My brows met in the middle at Jung Yohan’s screech. What the hell was wrong with him? That was when Ban Hwee Hyul continued speaking.
“It was the only joy of my life at the time.”
The moment I heard that word, I felt like I had already seen the ridiculous ending of this show in the future. Even I, who didn’t have a sharp batting eye, could sense that, so others would react more severely too.
Jooin closed his eyes, rolling up his body round like a hamster; Yeo Ryung grabbed her knees with a pale face as if she was riding a rollercoaster.
Jung Yohan quickly babbled, “No, please, do not answer. Just please stop talking.”
“So, what I wanted to say back then was…”
“I said STOP!”
“What do you live for–I live to watch comedy TV shows. Likewise, if watching those shows was the reason for your life, you would have not walked around at night, but you didn’t, which caused you to get involved in trouble. Because of you, I missed that TV show and wasted my time.”
“…”
“That was what I tried to say, I guess.” Ban Hwee Hyul concluded his words, at last, taking off his hand from his temple.
There was a cold silence. Jung Yohan stood blankly as if he was struck dumb.
“Um, Hwee Hyul,” said Eun Hyung.
“What?”
Showing a warm grin that seemed to melt away this ice-cold silence, Eun Hyung replied, “Take the Number one title from me ASAP.”
“But you said to me earlier if I don’t want to be a shameful brother to Hwee Ahn…”
“Come on.”
“…”
Eun Hyung asked him kindly and savagely, “Should I go upstairs myself?”
His words sounded much bloodier than that of the strictest teacher in our school. Ban Hwee Hyul finally moved his heavy body then stood beside Eun Hyung falteringly. He tapped Eun Hyung and got his title back then stood face to face with Jung Yohan.
Amid the situation, I thought, ‘So even that gentle touch can be admitted as succeeding to the title…’
Then earlier, why did Eun Hyung punch Ban Hwee Hyul so hard, which made him almost fly away? Maybe Eun Hyung had some bad feelings against him? I wondered.
Meanwhile, Eun Hyung finally returned to us, and we kept watching the situation.
Jung Yohan looked grim. Ban Hwee Hyul spoke to him hesitatingly.
“Even if you got me wrong, it’s true that my words aroused suspicion. Besides, I did ignore you who were in trouble. Sorry, please accept my belated apology.”
“I am not here to get those useless apologies. If you want to say something, say it through your fist. In the end, I’m also here to follow the logic of the strong,” said Jung Yohan.
I stared at him with pity. Jung Yohan and Eun Hyung’s fight was going unilateral; he was losing to Eun Hyung. However, Ban Hwee Hyul was overwhelmingly stronger than Eun Hyung. So, to be honest, the final winner of this game was obvious.
As if he was also aware of that, Ban Hwee Hyul hesitated and didn’t raise his fist to the end. Jung Yohan shouted, “Hold up your fist! How further are you gonna humiliate me?!”
“But…”
“Or else, am I still a worthless weirdo to you?”
Ban Hwee Hyul, at last, raised his fist at Jung Yohan’s retort. When the host lifted his hand up, the two dashed into each other at the same time. Since I couldn’t stand the things that would happen afterward, I just closed my eyes tightly.
It was the most desperate and sad fight ever. Those who experienced Eun Hyung’s fatal blow realized the difference between their strengths and surrendered immediately, whereas Jung Yohan kept throwing himself to Ban Hwee Hyul no matter how many times he got beaten. Even Ban Hwee Hyul was struggling to give as little damage as possible to Jung Yohan.
However, it soon came to end within a few minutes. Jung Yohan fell down to his knees, eventually. Watching that sight, I heaved a deep sigh.
“The w… inner is… Ban Hwee Hyul.”
The host in the corner, who was lost in admiration, announced with a stammer, but no one raised the roof. Although this was what we had expected and wanted to happen, I couldn’t help myself feeling so bitter.
If Jung Yohan won this game, would I have felt better? No, I would not. He tried to use Ban Hwee Hyul’s pain so that he could become the Number one. So, how could I?
Did this game really need a winner and loser? That was when I felt pity for this situation, squinting my eyes. Ban Hwee Hyul came close to Jung Yohan and grabbed his hand to raise him up.
Jung Yohan removed his hand with a slap and threw a tantrum.
“Don’t pity me! Stop making me miserable…”
“I don’t.”
“What?”
“I think you’re as amazing as my brother who’s weak but practiced doing the right thing till the end.”
Speaking in sorrow, Ban Hwee Hyul helped Jung Yohan stand up. He then turned around and slowly took a look at the people staring at him. Bending his steps on the stage, Ban Hwee Hyul finally stood under the pouring light. The host lost his place, but he didn’t say anything.

.

Staring at Jung Yohan and Ban Hwee Hyul quietly, Eun Hyung asked with a calm voice.

“Is that why you want to take revenge on Ban Hwee Hyul? Because he was just a bystander watching you get beaten and harassed?”

“No.”

“No?”

“Yeah, there’s one thing I didn’t tell you yet.” Lifting his chin in the air, Jung Yohan added composedly, “About Ban Hwee Ahn, Ban Hwee Hyul’s little brother. How we became to know each other and so on…”

“Oh,” exclaimed Eun Hyung.

Pulling his arms into his chest, Jung Yohan showed a darker look in his eyes.

He uttered, “Once I got to get bullied, maybe I started to smell like a loser or something was engraved on my forehead. Weirdly, things kept happening to me in the streets such as someone picking a fight on me or trying to steal my things. Sometimes, those who called me, ‘Jung Dong Woo’s walking wallet,’ came and stole my money like nothing. Every time those things took place, a kid appeared and helped me.”

Speaking to that extent, Jung Yohan bit his lips for a moment.

“He was… no, he was smaller and skinnier than me, but strangely, when he showed up and said something to the big dudes, they just stepped back and couldn’t move an inch. At first, I didn’t know why, but after hearing his name, I got it right away.”

Switching his gaze back to Ban Hwee Hyul, Jung Yohan giggled sharply.

“Ban is quite a rare last name, isn’t it?”

At that moment, I directed my eyes aside reflectively. Just in time, Ban Yeo Ryung also looked dumbfounded as if she wasn’t sure whether the words were aiming at her or at Ban Hwee Hyul.

Diverting my gaze back onto Jung Yohan, I calmed down and murmured, ‘Okay, Jung Yohan, the only mistake you’ve done is that you’re living in a world of a web novel…’

Meanwhile, Ban Hwee Hyul, who got to listen to the mystery of his little brother’s past, just cast his eyes down to the floor.

Amid the little fuss, Jung Yohan continued his words.

“Of course, Ban Hwee Hyul’s name didn’t always work as an amulet. Sometimes, Ban Hwee Ahn also got beaten in which I had to help him to escape. It made me wonder why was he putting all his efforts to save others when he’s also very weak. Then he told me one day that being weak doesn’t justify abandoning scruples.”

“…”

“It was an eye-opener, but that doesn’t mean that I agreed to his words. Instead, I realized something else about conscience. The thing that he never tried to look into…”

Did he just say something else? Tilting my head in wonder, I paid attention to his story.

“Conscience is just a device for the weak to control the strong from overpowering them.”

In the weird silence, Jung Yohan kept babbling, “The only thing that the weak can expect to the strong is ‘conscience’ and ‘justice.’ The strong must respect those virtues so that the weak can survive without losing their things to the strong. Don’t you think so?”

Finishing his words, Jung Yohan raised his head up to see the audience seats on the second floor, not the stage where the ranked fighters were.

Throwing a glance at the crowds of people upstairs, he finally directed his eyes back to Ban Hwee Hyul.

He shouted, “But that little bastard kept trying to keep ‘conscience’ in which his strong, big brother never tried to respect it at all. That weak dude helping other weak people… I told him to stop in fear of him getting in big trouble one day, but he didn’t listen. Then in the end…”

“…”

“Now you get it, Ban Hwee Hyul? I will never ever forgive you. While you wasted your innate power and force and acted indifferent, saying that we should just live the way we’re born, your brother, who even had way less power, struggled to help others as much as possible and suffered in the end. People like you are those who pushed Ban Hwee Ahn into the corner. You’re the same offender!”

Jung Yohan retorted fiercely to Ban Hwee Hyul who was sitting stiffly as a rock. Then all of a sudden, Jung Yohan revealed an insane smile.

He added, “Ah, but don’t worry, of course. I also don’t want to support Ban Hwee Ahn’s useless, idealistic theories. Once I take your Number one title, things are gonna be done in my way. In the end, it’s what the strongest wants, isn’t it?”

“…”

“You’re gonna regret the things you said to me back then.”

I stared at Jung Yohan blurting out a threatening remark. Then I turned my head back to Ban Hwee Hyul.

He was fixing his eyes upon Jung Yohan with a serious look on his face, but in my view, Ban Hwee Hyul seemed to have a hard time grasping Jung Yohan’s words, so perhaps he was thinking about the meaning in his head.

Being difficult to watch him struggle, I lowered my head and whispered, “Jung Yohan is saying that he’s gonna keep the current hierarchical system and operate it under the law of the jungle way even more. Thus, he won’t be helping the weak.”

“Oh…”

That was when Ban Hwee Hyul exclaimed like a moron. Flickering his eyes a couple of times, he finally opened his mouth.

“I have a question.” His voice echoed around the huge gym.

“What?” asked Jung Yohan with a sharp, ringing voice.

Ban Hwee Hyul tossed a question severely, “The things I said to you back then… What do you mean? I never said anything to you.”

I looked at Ban Hwee Hyul pathetically. Geez, considering his memories, he shouldn’t talk so confidently that way…

Indeed, Jung Yohan became at a loss for words. With a sneer, he replied, “Don’t you really remember that? The only one time when you saved me…”

“What?”

“One night, on another unlucky day, I was getting beaten again in the alley. Suddenly, someone appeared and saved me. First, it was Ban Hwee Ahn; next, it was you. You looked very sick and tired of your little brother intervening in the situation. Once you raised your first, the bastards all ran away.”

“…”

As if he had never heard about it before, Ban Hwee Ahn paid attention to Jung Yohan’s words.

“I was very happy that you helped me. Yeah, ridiculously, I still had a little crush on you, admired you until that moment. But you told me this.”

“What did I say?”

“Why are you alive when you’re so weak? Is there a reason for you to live? That’s what you said to me.”

A cold silence weighed us down.

I lifted my blank eyes and directed them to Ban Hwee Hyul. He shook his head desperately.

“I never said that.”

“Really?” I asked, having an endless distrust toward his memories.

Looking shocked, Ban Hwee Hyul touched his lips then replied, “I’m twisting my brains, but it ain’t in my memories.”

“You aren’t able to remember that because you attacked him verbally, not physically, no? Maybe your brain is actually categorizing it as indirect violence, instead of direct violence.”

“Uh, no… no, it isn’t…”

Watching him stammer, I turned my head, feeling that I could be interrogating the wrong person.

‘Then what’s going on?’ I murmured, looking at Jung Yohan. ‘One of them is lying…’

But why would Jung Yohan make up a lie in this situation? Besides, the look in his eyes seemed to be very determined to disclose all the truth in every aspect.

At that moment, Jung Yohan brought it up again. His voice rang the entire gym.

“You really don’t remember anything at all? Alright, then let me tell you in detail. While your brother wasn’t there, you asked me what I was living for. It was such an unexpected question that I became bewildered, and since you’d been the object of my admiration for a long time, I wasn’t sure what answer you’re looking for, so I just replied, I don’t have any.”

Jung Yohan smiled contemptuously, “Then you said, ‘Yeah, I knew it,’ or else I wouldn’t be wandering around late at night. You kept telling me that living a life for no reason was incomprehensible, and you wasted your time. What else can you explain about it unless you already judged me as a loser just because I’m weak?”

“No, I’m…”

“In fact, you’ve been thinking about your brother that way too, right? Weak and worthless weirdo who can’t even defend himself. Even if we get beaten for nothing, it’s our fault, being careless to avoid the situation. That’s how you view us. If you didn’t think that way, you would have not disappeared, but instead, you might have searched for the culprit who brutally assaulted your brother.”