TCWS 02

Chapter : 02

“Don’t stick your nose into other people’s business. If you’re done stuffing your face, then get the hell out.”

The man sneered as if trying to provoke her, shaking the hand that was gripping Iseol’s chin from side to side.

He was only shaking her lightly, but her body was dragged along with it.

It hurt so badly she couldn’t even scream.

In an instant, a hand flew in and grabbed the manager’s wrist, twisting it.

The hand that hadn’t budged no matter how hard he struggled slipped off her chin.

It was absurdly easy.

Her jaw throbbed and burned, but thankfully it didn’t seem like anything was broken.

If this man hadn’t helped, her bone really might have cracked.

The thug, now restrained with his arm twisted behind his back by a stranger, shouted in panic.

“Let go of me! You won’t let go?!”

Iseol blinked as she watched the thug, completely immobilized by the man.

To subdue such a huge gangster with just one hand…

“What kind of man picks on a weak woman like that?”

“What the hell are you saying, you good-for-nothing bastard? Hey! What are you all standing around for? You just gonna watch?!”

At the manager’s roar, the men who had been blinking blankly, unable to process what had just happened, rushed at the stranger all at once.

The man moved Iseol behind him and stepped forward, blocking the way.

No matter how strong he was, the numbers were overwhelming.

He was alone; they were more than ten.

Even three attacking at once would’ve been tough, yet two of them were still sitting back, watching.

But the moment the fight began, her worry turned into awe.

The country thugs who swung their fists without thinking were no match for the stranger.

Speed, strength, stamina, technique—everything about it was a clash between a professional and amateurs.

The man’s movements were so clean and efficient, it was as if he had turned fighting into art.

Every time the stranger swung his leg, the thugs toppled, flipped over, and rolled across the floor.

As she stared in a daze, danger struck.

“Hey—there’s a knife…!”

Someone pointed at a thug pulling out a knife and trying to stab the stranger from behind. Instinctively, Iseol grabbed a frying pan beside her and smashed it down on the thug’s head.

As the thug staggered, the stranger kicked the knife away and finished him off with a knee strike.

A siren sounded in the distance, growing closer.

Someone must have called the police.

“I’ve got your face burned into my memory. Next time I see you, I’ll snap your neck—so watch yourself at night.”

Spitting blood from his mouth, his face twisted and swollen from the beating, the manager stormed out of the shop.

The other thugs, battered and bleeding, staggered to their feet and fled after him.

“Grandma. Grandma, are you okay?”

“I’m fine. What about you?”

“I’m okay too.”

Her legs felt weak, like she might collapse, but after helping the unsteady old woman first, Iseol bowed deeply to the stranger, who was casually brushing dust off his jumper as if nothing had happened.

“I don’t even know how to thank you. Are you hurt anywhere?”

“No.”

The man replied briefly, his expression indifferent.

Then he handed over a 50,000-won bill.

“No, you helped us—if anything, we should be the ones—”

Iseol waved her hands, but the man simply placed the bill on a nearby table and turned away.

Before she could stop him, he left the shop with his companions.

“My goodness, what on earth happened? Are you hurt anywhere?”

The salon owner rushed in, making a fuss.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“Thank goodness. I was the one who called the police, but honestly, why did it take them so long? Anyway, who were those people who helped? They were flying around.”

At her words, the students who had been holding their breath in the corner joined in.

“That guy was no joke. What do you think he does? A stunt coordinator or something?”

“Seriously, my heart was pounding so hard I couldn’t breathe. How did he take down that many gangsters all by himself, barehanded?”

Listening to them, Iseol followed the alley where the men had disappeared with her eyes.

They’d probably never meet again—but if they did, she resolved to properly thank him.

And that chance came sooner than she expected.

***

The next afternoon.

After buying a few necessities and snacks at the mart, Iseol headed toward the passenger terminal.

She’d hurried so much she arrived early and took a walk along the pier.

The sun was slowly sinking toward the horizon.

Before long, night would fall.

As she turned back after a short walk, she heard shouting and the sound of many feet running.

Turning around, she saw a man being chased by over a dozen men in suits.

The man being chased looked familiar.

A baseball cap, jumper, jeans.

It was the man who had subdued the gangsters yesterday.

Where had the other two gone? Why was he alone?

The men chasing him weren’t local thugs.

Their black suits and slicked-back hair made them look like they were from Seoul.

There were far more of them than the gangsters from Mirae Credit yesterday.

She’d thought he was no ordinary person—but being chased by gangsters?

The cornered man glanced behind him.

Behind him was the sea; ahead was blocked. There was nowhere left to run.

Then suddenly, he clutched his stomach and grimaced.

Was he injured?

What should she do?

Call the police?

As she fumbled for her phone, she heard a splash—and the man vanished from sight.

The gangsters stood on the breakwater, watching to see if he surfaced, exchanged a few words among themselves, and then dispersed.

Iseol hesitated.

He was definitely injured.

Even if he could swim, escaping with a wound like that would be nearly impossible.

She’d learned to swim from a young age and had once even dreamed of becoming a competitive swimmer—but there was no guarantee she could find him in the sea.

Still, turning away like this wasn’t right.

Just yesterday, hadn’t that man saved her?

By the time emergency services arrived, it would be too late.

If she didn’t act fast, he’d be swept away by the waves.

She stripped off her coat and bag as she ran down to the shore, kicked off her sneakers, and jumped into the sea.

It was March—the water was icy cold.

At least the sun hadn’t set yet.

She opened her eyes underwater, searching desperately for the man.

The tide was pulling out; if she didn’t find him quickly, he could be dragged into deeper water.

Once darkness fell and he sank further, she’d lose him completely.

Fortunately, she spotted him slowly sinking below and swam down, wrapping her arms around his chest.

Blood was steadily seeping from his abdomen as he lay unconscious.

Dragging him ashore with great effort, Iseol began CPR.

After repeatedly pressing on his chest and breathing into his mouth, the man finally coughed up water and began breathing again.

“Haa…”

Relief washed over her.

He had lost a lot of blood, and his lips were blue from the freezing water.

If left like this, he could die from blood loss or hypothermia.

“Are you conscious? Can you walk?”

Instead of answering, the man frowned and clutched his stomach.

“Wait here.”

She ran back to where she’d left her clothes, grabbed them, and returned.

She took off the cardigan she’d been wearing over her T-shirt, tied it tightly around his abdomen to stop the bleeding, and helped him to his feet.

Looking toward the terminal, she saw men in black suits forcing their way onto boats, searching inside, then rushing back out.

Were they looking for his companions?

—Attention, passengers.

An announcement echoed through the terminal.

The ferry to Janghado would depart in ten minutes.

“Let’s go to the hospital first.”

“No. The hospital is… absolutely not…”

“But—”

“…Better to take that boat instead.”

Seeing the men from the boat spreading out to search the city, Iseol quickened her pace.

If they went to a hospital now, it was only a matter of time before he was found.

She couldn’t send someone she’d barely saved straight back into danger.