.  “Thank God!” I heaved a deep sigh of relief. While being close friends with the Four Heavenly Kings, I set my heart at ease that, luckily, they weren’t related to that freaking ranking thing. Thus, if Eun Hyung suddenly took an irreversible path, it would be a great shock to me.

  I was now able to take some time to examine the situation. Shortly after, I furrowed my brows and asked, “That guy, why did he try to offer his position to you out of the blue? All I can think of is that he’s afraid of getting a surprise attack. Since, lately, the highest-ranked fighters were all getting ambushed, he might have decided to stay low or back off just in case.”


  “Hmm…… well, I think there’s a chance of it too.”


  “What’s wrong with that dude? How can he put you at his place when you don’t want it at all? You know he’s just staying away from all the risks and hide somewhere safe……”


  Exploding with anger, I later lifted my head all of a sudden. If the reason I had in mind was true, the guy wouldn’t step back that easily.

  I quickly asked, “Eun Hyung, you did refuse his request clearly, right? There won’t be any possibilities that he suddenly brings you with him to the battle, saying that he signed up your name to join the fight, right?”


  After my words of concern, Yeo Ryung also looked at Eun Hyung with a worried expression on her face. Waving his hand in the air, Eun Hyung smiled.

  “No worries. That won’t happen. I got it straight.”


  “What did you say to refuse his request?”


  As far as I knew, Eun Hyung wasn’t the type of person who could put things straight to strangers. While I asked doubtfully, Eun Hyung replied with a refreshing grin.

  “As long as it doesn’t have any good influences on my academic records, I told him I won’t participate in that thing.”


  “.……”


  “Donnie, what’s wrong? You look weird?”


  Standing blankly, I soon shook my head and bent my steps with a sour face. I murmured, ‘Should I be happy or sad……’ It felt relieved that Eun Hyung would never join the ranking battle now and forever. However, I was concerned that he was going odd in a slightly different way.

  While I descended the stairs, saying those things to myself, an unexpected sight came into view. Putting my hands on the windowsill, I leaned my upper body outside the window and blurted out a word of surprise.

  “Eh?”


  “Donnie!”


  “Should be careful……!”


  While Yeo Ryung and Eun Hyung grabbed my backpack straps and waist at the same time, I pointed outside the window, blinking swiftly.

  “.……That’s……”


  “Huh?”


  Putting me back on the hallway floor, both Yeo Ryung and Eun Hyung also widened their eyes.

  Facing each other, two people were standing on the flower bed, where no one was around. One was Hwang Siwoo; the other was Yi Ruda. Since Hwang Siwoo had been particularly avoiding Yi Ruda, kids began to believe that, ‘Indeed, Yi Ruda taught Hwang Siwoo some lessons with force.”


  “What are they doing there?” asked Yeo Ryung.

  I shook my head to imply that I also had no idea. Sticking out my head outside the window again, I observed the situation.

  Hwang Siwoo was sinking his head on his chest like a sinner, whereas Yi Ruda was grimacing with his arms crossed as if something had displeased him. Based on their poses, I could only assume that they were having an unenjoyable conversation.

  The distance between the flower bed and this place wasn’t that far, so it seemed that I could hear their conversations well when opening the window a little more. However, I just turned around while recalling Ruda’s behaviors these days.

  I uttered, “Nah, I think I’m caring about things too much. Let’s just go,” then I added with confidence, “If it’s something important, Ruda will let us know later.”


  Both Yeo Ryung and Eun Hyung nodded at the same time.

  Averting my eyes from the window, I started walking, but on the other hand, I murmured to myself, ‘But the ongoing conversations between Yi Ruda and Hwang Siwoo seem to have something relevant to us.’ That was what my gut told me, which grew within me ever since I started reading web novels.

  The streets today were, as expected, full of tough-looking kids, wandering in groups again. That was why kids in our class sent text messages to each other when going back home which almost looked like they were letting others know that they were alive.

  ‘But when the ranking battle starts, all those guys will rush to that place; the streets will get safer then……’ I sighed, uttering my wish.

  In hopes of returning home as soon as possible, we decided to take the shortcut through the tenements, instead of walking up the big road to the apartment. It was our choice, regarding that we didn’t have to worry about safety since we have Eun Hyung with us.

  The phone bell rang in less than five minutes after taking the shortcut.

  I groped inside my pocket for a second then realized that it wasn’t my phone ringing. I lifted my head, saying, “Eh?”


  “.…… It’s mine……?!” said Eun Hyung. He took out his phone in surprise.

  Ban Yeo Ryung and I directed our eyes to his phone. As soon as the name on the phone screen came into view, I blinked, ‘Ruda?’ Since I found Hwang Siwoo and Ruda talking to each other just now on all occasions, something felt uncomfortable.

  On the other hand, Eun Hyung also looked confused.

  “Does he have something to call me?” he murmured then opened his flip phone and put it close to his ear.

  Hello? While he responded quietly, I shoved my hands in my pocket and looked around. It was in the evening at sunset. Darkness was arising in every alley surrounding us.

  The glass windows of the tenements were shining ominously orange in the reflected rays of the setting sun as if someone had set fire.

  My eyes, glancing over the buildings in boredom, then paused at the parking lot of an old apartment. There was no car, but only dead leaves were piled up. Looking at the sight, I came up with Ban Hwee Hyul.

  ‘Geez, he won’t be getting beaten somewhere, right?’ Grumbling in a small voice, I soon held my breath as a shadow suddenly appeared at the end of the alley.

  It was someone with all-black outfits from head to toe: a black hoodie, black face mask, and black sweatpants. If that wasn’t enough, the stranger even wore a cap inside the hoodie pulled over his head; thus, it was almost impossible to see his or her face. Just looking at the overall outfit, the person was being obvious that he or she was suspicious.

  As the person took a step forward in our direction, I tried to step back totteringly but stopped to do so. If only Yeo Ryung and I were here, I would, of course, grab her wrist and run away immediately. However, we had Eun Hyung beside us. He was capable enough to fight alone against ten people. In fact, if Yeo Ryung made up her mind, she could also bring out the warrior inside her.

  That was when I slowly adjusted my breath, having those thoughts in mind. Ruda’s sharp and loud voice burst out over the phone and even struck my ears.

  “Run to a crowded place! Right now!”


  “Hey, don’t you have to let me know why before asking me to do that? Would you tell me the reason?” replied Eun Hyung.

  Just by the way of them speaking over the phone, Ruda seemed to be in the middle of a disaster scene; Eun Hyung, instead, looked like he was trying to help Ruda. However, I felt my heart thump, so I quickly grabbed his arm.

  “Donnie?” Taking his phone off from his ear, Eun Hyung stared at me in wonder. “What’s wrong?”


  “I…… um……” I pouted my lips in hesitation. My guts were always right whenever something bad happened. It was now alerting me loudly.

  While I didn’t know how to explain this situation correctly, I heard a sharp wind sound all of a sudden.

  Flinching, I released Eun Hyung’s wrist from my grip and quickly moved my body. A speedy blow struck between Eun Hyung and me. It was so fast that Eun Hyung would have suffered a direct hit if Yeo Ryung didn’t pull his nape back reflectively.

  However, Eun Hyung wasn’t able to perfectly avoid it that he had a scar left on his cheek.

  I shrieked, “Eun Hyung!”


  “What the heck is……” Murmuring that way, Eun Hyung touched his cheek bitterly. When the blood smeared on his palm came into view, Eun Hyung was taken aback.