I Became a Disaster-Class Sorcery Genius

Did anyone force you? (2)

Just as Lee Youngcheol said, most of the reporters gathered at Kim Dojun's press conference were like a pack of jackals prowling for sensational stories.

As expected, Kim Hyungjun, the reporter who asked that ridiculous question a moment ago, was one of those who had taken bribes from Go-gun Group.

He was determined to catch Kim Dojun in some way and write an article to drag him down.

That was, after all, why Go-gun Group had paid him so much in bribes.

'If I satisfy this client this time, they'll come back to me next time too.'

With that thought in mind, Kim Hyungjun came prepared with absurd, provocative questions.

'Even if Kim Dojun handles it better than I expect...'

He smirked.

'It doesn't matter.'

Kim Hyungjun truly didn't care.

Even if Kim Dojun managed to handle this press conference well, from the moment Kim Dojun showed up at the venue and started talking, the knife was already in Kim Hyungjun's hands.

What if Kim Dojun responds well?

He would just make something up.

Even if there was absolutely nothing to criticize?

He would fabricate something just the same.

Of course, the resulting article would be a piece of trash, a tabloid full of loosely strung-together fragments of what Kim Dojun said, but that didn't matter much to Kim Hyungjun.

What was important to him was the money, not the article, and Go-gun Group had paid him more than enough.

However—

"No, I'm asking, did anyone actually threaten them with a knife?"

Kim Hyungjun hadn't anticipated this situation.

"Well, still—"

"Still what? I responded to someone who came after me for money, paid to beat me up. What's so wrong about that that you keep nagging?"

"Then, Kim Dojun, do you feel no guilt for having used excessive violence?"

"Shouldn't the guilt belong to those bastards? They ganged up on a single student!"

"Even so—"

"And, damn it, if some veterans in the field get their asses handed to them by a student, they should feel ashamed and take some time for self-reflection instead of boasting about how they got beat up. Isn't that outright comical?"

"That kind of statement sounds extremely insulting—"

"Insulting, my ass. Then what would you do, reporter, if you're just living your life and suddenly a robber breaks into your house swinging a knife around? Are you telling me to just stand there and do nothing? Just get yourself beaten to death, then."

"That's a bit of a strange analogy—"

"So what?"

"?"

Kim Dojun continued, looking at Kim Hyungjun, whose face had gone blank after the rapid exchange.

"And let's try not to make it so obvious you're being paid off by Go-gun Group. You're so desperate for it."

"... You're making some extremely careless remarks. Are you sure you can take responsibility for this?"

At those words, Kim Hyungjun scowled, openly showing his displeasure.

"Like I care?"

"?"

"I said, like I care."

"..."

The reporters were stunned by Kim Dojun's brash attitude—something unimaginable at a press conference.

Among them, the first to recover his senses was Kim Hyungjun. While he felt anger at Kim Dojun's words, he also couldn't help but smirk inwardly.

'This brat really doesn't know how the world works yet.'

Of course, Kim Dojun's words were correct.

But there was one problem—his speech and manners were extremely rough.

Instead of giving a polite answer, Kim Dojun had started cursing at the reporter, and sooner or later, that kind of ignorance would tighten the noose around his own neck.

With those thoughts, Kim Hyungjun looked at Kim Dojun, thinking now he'd have to pay the price, as the sound of typewriters grew louder from either side.

But Kim Dojun—

"And."

Met Kim Hyungjun's stare and spoke clearly.

"You're the one who has to take responsibility."

With those words, Kim Dojun turned to face forward and glanced around at the reporters.

Clap!

He suddenly clapped his hands loudly, drawing the attention of the reporters who had been busy typing away.

Tak-tak-tak-tak-!

Yet, even as they turned their attention to Kim Dojun, many continued typing without pause.

Seeing this, Kim Dojun suddenly stretched out his hand and spread his middle and index fingers.

"All right, everyone~ pick what you're curious about."

Then—

"One, a story about how Go-gun Group supplied unidentified spiritual tools to criminals affiliated with the Pantheon multiple times."

"The other, a story about how Go-gun Group manipulated public opinion by paying off reporters through a ghost company called Cheongseong Trading."

Relaxing one finger after the other, Kim Dojun finished his statement.

"Which do you want to hear about?"

Tak—tak!... Tak......

The sound of typewriters rapidly diminished.

"Oh, come to think of it, I have several stories about our Go-gun Group chairman too."

With all eyes now on him, Kim Dojun twisted his lips upward in a smirk.

"Go on, choose."

####

The press conference caused a stir in public opinion.

No, calling it a stir would be an understatement—the entire industry was in an uproar.

The fact that Kim Dojun had cursed and acted cocky in front of reporters at the scene?

That was so minor it wasn't even worth reporting to the jackals chasing after headlines.

What truly caused shockwaves was the story Kim Dojun revealed about Go-gun Group.

A day later, the story grew even bigger.

That was because evidence began to emerge, bit by bit, proving that what Kim Dojun had brought up at the press conference wasn't a lie.

So then, how had Kim Dojun known about Go-gun Group's dirty secrets?

In truth, the reason was incredibly simple: he'd seen it while playing the game.

'That bastard who always showed up to cause trouble was damned annoying in the game, but now he's finally useful.'

The character Go Seung-jun from Sorcery Killing Technique was entangled with the player as an enemy until the end of act one.

As a result, while taking down Go Seung-jun, Players naturally encountered information that established just how corrupt Go-gun Group was, and those settings were now Kim Dojun's powerful weapon.

While pleased with that, Kim Dojun still found himself surprised.

'Still, I didn't think things would blow up this badly.'

He hadn't expected it to get this far.

Go-gun Group was a giant, well-known not only domestically but internationally, so Kim Dojun assumed they'd act fast to contain the fallout once he revealed those stories.

Whether erasing evidence or simply denying everything.

He had another ace up his sleeve just in case, but he didn't even have to use it—Go-gun Group was now in a completely rocky state.

'Guess the country is actually doing its job for once.'

The reason Go-gun Group ended up like this?

It was because of the government.

Kim Dojun didn't know all the details, but he learned that Go-gun Group had used the excuse of relocating their headquarters to extort all kinds of concessions from the government, even threatening them at times, and had schemed to flee once there was nothing left to squeeze.

Right at that moment, Kim Dojun exposed Go-gun Group's filth, and the government—having suffered enough—pounced, combing through every piece of evidence and hitting Go-gun Group hard.

Thanks to that, Go-gun Group was burning up even more.

"Mmm~ Sweet."

Just as Kim Dojun was sipping his drink while watching the giant conglomerate take a beating—

On the top floor of Go-gun Group's headquarters in Yeouido—

Crack!

"Ugh!"

Go Seung-jun, Go-gun Group's heir, was struck by an ashtray hurled by his father, Go Guncheon, the chairman of the company.

Thunk—Thunk!

Even as blood trickled from his head, Go Seung-jun just shivered in fear.

Go Guncheon looked at him with utter contempt.

"You idiotic bastard."

With a look of pure disgust, he glared at Go Seung-jun.

"You went and sold out the company's secrets just to save yourself!?"

"F-Father, I really didn't... say anything related to the company..."

"Shut up, you little shit! Say another word and I'll rip your mouth open! And—if it wasn't you, then how the hell did that punk know anything about us!?"

"..."

Go Seung-jun fell silent at Go Guncheon's words.

Everything his father said made sense.

If he hadn't said anything, there was no way Kim Dojun could have known about those dirty secrets.

Still, Go Seung-jun felt truly wronged.

He had never actually shared anything about the company with Kim Dojun!

'Seriously, how the hell...!'

Deep inside, his resentment towards Kim Dojun and his own aggravation welled up, but knowing that saying anything now would only make his father angrier, he kept his mouth shut.

Go Guncheon, looking down on his son, said in disgust,

"Get lost, and don't dare show your face to me for at least six months!"

"... Understood."

After banishing his son, Go Guncheon clutched his head as if in pain.

"Manager Lee."

"Yes, sir."

"You said his name was Kim Dojun?"

"That's right."

"Bring Kim Dojun to me. As politely as possible."

Saying that, he closed his eyes.

Meanwhile, having been driven out by his father, Go Seung-jun muttered under his breath,

"Kim Dojuuun...!!!"

His bloodshot eyes wide open, he repeated the name.

####

As expected, it wasn't long after the media firestorm that Kim Dojun received a summons from Go-gun Group's Go Guncheon.

"I'll escort you comfortably."

Staring at the man who introduced himself as Go Guncheon's secretary and bowed politely, Kim Dojun said,

"There's no need to meet. Just give me a phone number."

"The chairman strongly wishes to meet you in person, Mr. Kim Dojun."

"I don't want to."

"...."

Despite the refusal, the secretary maintained a pleasant smile, showing no sign of inconvenience.

Kim Dojun, secretly admiring the perfect facial composure, spoke again.

"I think I roughly understand what the chairman is worried about, so pass on this message: as long as he doesn't mess with me, I don't plan on doing anything."

Well, my existence alone must be plenty uncomfortable, he added.

"And anyway, I'll probably visit soon since I'll need to ask for a favor after the semester ends."

With that, he sent the secretary away.

'There's nothing to squeeze out of Go-gun Group until after finals anyway. And it's a waste of time to keep badgering them for now.'

He had already gotten several times his due, so Kim Dojun was satisfied.

'Damn~ If that's not a sage, I don't know what is.'

Imagining Shin Se-yeon laughing in disbelief if she heard those thoughts, he turned his attention to the tasks he needed to complete before the end of term.

Thirty minutes later—

"Today, I really am going to use the gun."

"... Are you really going to shoot?"

"Didn't I tell you? If you want to kill your dad, you need to be able to dodge a bullet with your astrology skills."

Shin Se-yeon wore a complicated, worried expression as Kim Dojun spoke, but eventually nodded in reluctant agreement.

Seeing her like that, Kim Dojun nodded back with a satisfied grin.

"Don't worry, would I ever actually kill you?"

"... Right?"

"I mean, the bullet could kill you, but not me."

"???"

"Anyway, just don't worry."

"......."

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