# Chapter 10
Ban Hwihyeol, the district management officer of the Focus Iljinhoe, was walking around the streets leading some members under him to report on the status of schools affiliated with Focus Iljinhoe in Seoul, as instructed by Apex Kim Pyeonghwa.
“Huh? Sunbae. That person over there… isn’t that Devil’s Apex Gu Haejin?”
What? Hwihyeol narrowed his brows at one member’s words. What’s he talking about? Why would Devil’s Apex be in our territory? However, look over there. Hwihyeol’s gaze shifted to where the member was pointing. And then he stopped abruptly in his tracks.
“A hospital…?”
Gu Haejin was entering a hospital.
Hwihyeol narrowed his eyes for a moment. If his eyes weren’t deceiving him and he was seeing correctly, the person entering the hospital right now was indeed Gu Haejin, the Apex of the rank 2 Devil faction and the worst enemy of his master, Focus Apex Kim Pyeonghwa—more antagonistic than sworn enemies.
Today was the first time even Hwihyeol had seen Gu Haejin in person, the one called the Thousand-Year Prince and known as the flower of Iljinhoe.
But…
Hwihyeol stared seriously at the large letters that read “Gangnam General Hospital.” What reason would the Devil Apex have to visit such a large hospital, when he was the only one with skills nearly rivaling Apex Kim Pyeonghwa?
If it was for injuries from a fight, Gu Haejin’s body had looked fine from what he’d briefly but clearly seen. Besides, if it were a mere minnow it would be one thing, but if an Iljinhoe “Apex” had been in a fight, there’s no way he as the district management officer wouldn’t know about it.
If there was one thing that bothered him…
“He definitely looked like he was struggling.”
“Pardon?”
The fact that Gu Haejin’s steps as he entered the hospital were noticeably labored.
Hwihyeol had a gut feeling. This might not be an ordinary matter. The member questioned his mumbled words, but Hwihyeol ignored him and pulled out his phone from his pocket. Then he pressed the speed dial button with practiced ease. Turururu—After just one ring, someone picked up. A cold, chilling voice came through.
“Hello, Apex Kim Pyeonghwa! This is Focus officer Ban Hwihyeol from district management!”
“What about the tasks I assigned.”
“Yes. I’ve confirmed everything as of today. I’ll report the details to you in person.”
“Why did you call?”
“Well, it’s nothing serious but…”
Ban Hwihyeol was nervous.
The Apex particularly hated unnecessary phone calls. To avoid disturbing Pyeonghwa’s merciless temperament as much as possible, he had to calm his trembling heart. He clenched his fist so tightly it dug into his flesh.
“After finishing the final check at Seoyeon Technical High, on my way back to you, I just spotted Devil Iljinhoe’s Apex Gu Haejin.”
“And so.”
“But… Gu Haejin went into Gangnam General Hospital.”
“…What?”
For a fleeting moment, surprise passed through Pyeonghwa’s usually ice-cold voice. Hwihyeol momentarily questioned the Apex’s reaction but quickly continued speaking.
“One thing that stood out was… he seemed to be having difficulty walking.”
“……”
“Since he’s Devil’s Apex, I thought you should know…”
“……”
“Apex…? Sunbae Pyeonghwa?”
As Pyeonghwa fell silent, Hwihyeol had to think countless thoughts in his head. What’s wrong? Did I say something wrong? Or should I not have mentioned it at all?! What do I do?
“Um… Apex…?”
“Fuck!”
BANG!! CRASH-!
Eek. Hwihyeol held his breath.
Through the phone came a savage curse along with the sounds of things breaking and shattering. For some reason, the Apex seemed extremely angry right now.
After several crashing sounds, the call was abruptly cut off.
“Sunbae Hwihyeol! What did the Apex say? Why do you look so pale…”
“Let’s head back.”
“What? Huh?”
Ban Hwihyeol quickened his pace toward Jaerim High School, the sacred ground of Focus and Kim Pyeonghwa’s school, with a stiff expression.
It was an emergency.
***
I ended up skipping school that day.
The power of indigestion was truly tremendous… I headed to the hospital as soon as I left school, but damn it, while our school area was full of useless bars, there wasn’t a small clinic in sight, let alone a pharmacy! So after staggering around for 10 minutes, enduring my insanely painful stomach and the rising dry heaves, I ended up—unintentionally—being examined at a large general hospital.
At first, I hesitated, thinking it might be excessive to go to such a big place for mere indigestion, but in the state I was in, dying of pain, I wasn’t in a position to be picky about hospitals, so I just went in.
At that time, with nausea plus a headache and cold sweat running down, my complexion had gone beyond pale to ashen, so the nurse at the reception desk was shocked as if she’d seen a monster. As soon as she saw me, she made a fuss with absurd remarks like “How did such a handsome and pretty student end up like this!” while creating a commotion… Oh my. Even in my sick state, I couldn’t lift my face from embarrassment.
The doctor’s diagnosis was, as I expected, “acute indigestion.”
Of course. I couldn’t forget that familiar feeling! But one fact that saddened me was that, perhaps because it was a general hospital, the scale of the prescribed medication was quite impressive. Like a string of candies, they prepared a total of one week’s worth of medicine, with morning, lunch, and evening doses each day. No, it was just indigestion, but the medication looked like it was for a severe cold.
When I discreetly asked the pharmacist, they said that this much wasn’t really necessary, but they didn’t know the reason either. Still, it would be a direct hit for indigestion, or something like that… Ah, what is it? What is it!
You’d think a huge general hospital would be reliable, right?! Even in this novel, hospitals must be normal! Actually, I was just making a fuss because I didn’t want to take medicine. I’m sure they gave me the right stuff!
But! I! Hate taking medicine so muuuch…
Anyway, feeling a slight sense of guilt for skipping school yesterday, I resolved to attend classes properly today. After all, my goal is to become the ordinary student Gu Haejin.
Although yesterday I suffered public humiliation as the Apex in front of the entire school due to the fucking surprise appearance of Choigang Apex Oh Eundo… Please, from today on, let me focus on studying normally, quit my unemployed life, and start anew!
—That was my ambitious plan as I headed to school with my medicine in hand.
“Um, student Haejin…? Wouldn’t it be better to go to the infirmary…?”
“N-no… I’m f-fine… Please don’t worry about me.”
Maybe because I took medicine this morning before coming to school, the drowsiness kept making my body slump, making it hard to concentrate in class. Plus, since it was indigestion, I hadn’t eaten anything since yesterday, so I didn’t feel like myself… No, I definitely wasn’t myself. The world seemed to be spinning around me.
I forced a small smile as I struggled to lift my head from the desk in response to the English teacher’s trembling voice carefully suggesting I go to the infirmary. I can attend this class. I’m definitely going to get a job… So please stop making that expression that says you wish I’d accept your suggestion. And I’m curious—why do you use formal speech only with me, teacher? Please treat me like a regular student, like all these other guys. I’m afraid this might also be because of that damn Apex title. Don’t make me feel more miserable.
Even after a day and taking medicine, the indigestion hasn’t subsided. What’s wrong with this body? If he’s a troublemaker, at least be physically strong! Uselessly frail and problematic. Sob. I really can’t take this. I was trying to attend classes today, but it’s just not helping. Finally, unable to endure anymore, I had to stand up from my chair on trembling legs.
Screech—As I pushed my chair back and stood up, all eyes in the class fixed on me. Changsu also turned to look at me. Ah… our eyes met for a moment, and I had to taste despair once again. Changsu was clearly treating me as the Devil Apex. A feeling that our once-friendly relationship had suddenly grown distant. As expected, making normal friends had gone down the drain. Damn it…!
“Sorry, but may I go to the infirmary?”
“Yes! You may! Go quickly!!”
Teacher, that sounds like you’re telling me to get lost as soon as possible?
Dejected…
I feel so fucking miserable I could die. I left the classroom with trembling steps, feeling bitter.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
