NOVEL NEXT Chapter 138
Episode 138
“Alright, everyone, make yourselves comfortable.”
Lee Si-hyun said.
In front of him sat five men in their late twenties to early thirties, all looking quite stiff.
They were new correctional officers who had just been assigned to the Special Detention Center.
It was their first day on the job, and they had gathered at a nearby samgyeopsal restaurant after work.
This was a welcome dinner for the new recruits.
It wasn’t an official Security Department event but more of a modest welcome gathering that typically happens on the first day of work.
Usually, senior officers with similar experience levels take charge, but this time, it was Si-hyun’s turn to lead.
For Si-hyun, this was honestly a novel experience.
He still vividly remembered sitting in the corner like a little shrimp at his first welcome dinner, and now he was here as a senior and section chief.
Perhaps because they were new, the tension in the air was palpable.
Si-hyun smiled and made an effort to ease the stiff atmosphere a bit.
“I won’t force anyone to drink; if you don’t want to, don’t worry about it.”
“Yes, sir!”
The new recruits responded in voices filled with determination.
‘Well, this is something.’
Si-hyun internally smirked.
The correctional organization had a hierarchical system, but it wasn’t the military.
Still, newbies tended to get as tense as fresh recruits on their first deployment.
But he couldn’t really say anything; he felt the same way back then.
As the drinks circulated and some conversations flowed, the atmosphere started to mellow out.
Then, a new recruit wearing glasses brought up Si-hyun’s name.
“I never imagined I’d meet Section Chief Lee Si-hyun in person.”
“What have you heard about me?”
Si-hyun asked.
A few years ago, his face had gotten proper exposure in the media due to an incident.
It seemed that the recruit had heard about it back then.
But the next statement from the glasses-wearing recruit was rather unexpected.
“When we were at the training institute, some of the professors used your case as a model example.”
“At the training institute?”
Si-hyun’s eyes widened.
“Yes.”
“Wow, my brother has really made it big.”
Kang Baek, who was sitting next to him, exaggeratedly gasped.
‘What a strange feeling.’
Si-hyun took a sip from his drink, lost in thought.
He understood what he meant.
Professors at the training institute didn’t just present the bright and positive aspects of being a correctional officer.
They also discussed all sorts of disastrous cases, warning that one should never act in such a manner.
Cases like taking money from inmates, having affairs with inmates’ wives, and becoming a mobile phone courier for the inmate gang leaders, among many others…
In contrast, they advised attendees to retain exemplary cases in their hearts.
It probably turned out that there was some exemplary case featuring him.
After all, catching Kang Tae-eun or dealing with the Abnormal Gate was certainly noteworthy.
Just then, another new recruit sitting nearby raised his hand.
Si-hyun turned his gaze in that direction.
“What’s going on?”
“It’s embarrassing, but I’d like to dare to say something to you, Chief.”
“What is it?”
“Actually, the reason I applied to become a correctional officer was because of you.”
“….”
What on earth was that?
Si-hyun sent an encouraging glance to continue speaking.
“I don’t know how you’ll take it, but seeing the hero who shone amid the catastrophe on TV made me feel that being a correctional officer is a really wonderful profession. It’s hard to explain, but I felt it so strongly. Almost as if it was fate.”
“Mm.”
“So I thought, rather than just being a porter in a guild, I should try to become a cool correctional officer like you, and I applied.”
“Yes… I see. Got it.”
Si-hyun replied with an ambiguous expression.
After all, he had left a positive impression about being a correctional officer, and that had influenced one person to join the ranks, which was good.
Still, hearing such things spoken directly to him felt quite awkward.
“My brother is getting more famous, and it makes my heart swell with pride.”
Kang Baek shrugged his shoulders as if it were his own achievement, pouring more drink into Si-hyun’s glass.
“Ah, really, could you not overdo it? There are newbies present; this is so embarrassing…”
“Oh come on, brother. This isn’t overdoing it. How hot are you right now? Have you seen the comments from the correctional officers outside the walls?”
“What? Why?”
The correctional officers outside the walls were a community of current correctional officers.
Especially many young officers were active there.
Si-hyun hadn’t visited since he had moved to Ganghwa Island, even though he occasionally lurked around there when he was a Grade 9 officer.
“If that’s the case, then you wouldn’t know about the ‘Ferrari Girl.’”
“Ferrari Girl?”
Just hearing that made him feel as if he already understood the situation.
“The section chief at the Special Detention Center is said to be dating Ferrari Girl, and the rumors have spread like wildfire among the correctional officers outside the walls. Apparently, she’s incredibly beautiful, has an amazing figure, and drives around in a Ferrari. Everyone’s commenting, asking if you saved a country in your past life.”
“…There’s not just one section chief at the Special Detention Center, you know?”
“There’s only one unmarried section chief, and that’s you, brother.”
“…I see.”
Ah, so that’s how it ended up.
“I’m so jealous, brother.”
Kang Baek gazed at him with both admiration and envy.
In a word, it was the very essence of a burdensome gaze.
Si-hyun let out a chuckle and subtly turned his eyes away.
But then.
“Wait… why are all of you looking at me like that?”
Si-hyun said incredulously.
Because the new recruits were staring at him with envious gazes.
Indeed, it was a burdensome look.
“Is that you, Chief?”
“That’s impressive.”
“I respect you.”
“As expected, it’s you, Chief.”
Si-hyun was completely unaccustomed to this sudden shift in atmosphere.
“What? Have you all heard the news from outside the walls?”
“No, we saw it on Gong-Gallery.”
The glasses-wearing recruit said as he fiddled with his phone, then handed it over to Si-hyun.
Gong-Gallery?
It was a famous community for civil service exam students.
Wait, how did it make it all the way up there?
Si-hyun looked at the phone with an incredulous expression.
On the screen was an internet page displayed.
Si-hyun brought his face closer to the screen.
<Title: Shut up; correctional officers are the best!>
-Content: If you become a correctional officer, you get to meet girls like this, losers!
It had a very simple title and content.
Below it, there was an image—the photo from back then.
Lin Xue was dressed in a skin-tight red mini dress.
She was already pretty, and the photo made her look like a total top model.
In the background, a white Ferrari was subtly showing.
Nice angle, huh?
Si-hyun couldn’t help but chuckle.
In the picture, she was holding someone’s hand.
Of course, it was him.
But the guy’s face was mosaiced.
…Wait, why am I the one with the mosaic?
On the positive side of protecting personal information, it was a good thing.
It was great, but… why did it feel so…
Si-hyun raised his glass to his lips.
After taking a bitter sip, he started reading the comments below the post.
-“I enjoyed the delusions of correctional nerds.”
-“Yes, next correctional nerd.”
-“Wow… she’s so freaking pretty. Saving.”
-“Correctional nerds really have no clue about their place.”
-“They need to be messed with on a blind date to wake up to reality.”
-“Let’s all sing that famous ‘Gee Song’ by the correctional officers. I’ve sung it once too.”
-“Oh man… totally my type! Her hips are killer, just killer. I’m so jealous, so jealous, so jealous.”
-“Good job mosaicing that guy’s face. Respect. Loyalty.”
-“Hey, any more photos? Hurry up and post some more.”
-“How can I tell if this person is a correctional officer when they’re in casual clothes?”
-“Don’t mess around, you hanger-ons. This person is actually a correctional officer.”
-“What do those hanger-ons know? They can’t even do one pull-up, lol.”
-“I’m sure because she’s my friend, guys. And to all the civil service exam students, correctional officers marry well, so come with ease. Don’t believe the nonsense.”
“….”
Si-hyun put down the phone and cradled his head in his hands.
Having been a civil service exam student himself, Si-hyun understood well that the Gong-Gallery was like the market where exam students in the correction, patrol, tax, and prosecutorial fields struggled.
Especially the main repertoire for bashing correctional officers was: terrible social perception, dying early due to overtime, backward military culture, and many old bachelors who can’t meet women.
It seemed one of his classmates who didn’t like the negative comments about their organization had posted this piece.
…Whoever that classmate was, why are they acting so outrageous in a place like this?
Si-hyun shook his head in disbelief and handed the phone back to the glasses-wearing recruit.
The recruit respectfully accepted it with both hands and spoke again.
“Respect, Chief.”
…There was genuine sincerity in it.
So… is it about respecting him for something like that?
Eventually, Si-hyun couldn’t help but say something.
“Come on, what’s so great about dating a beautiful girl like that?”
“….”
A moment of chilled silence flowed.
Si-hyun felt a shiver run down his spine at the words he had let slip.
Bang!
Kang Baek slammed his drink down hard on the table.
Then he muttered in a heavy voice.
“…Right. You wouldn’t know, the saintly brother doesn’t. Of course, you wouldn’t know the hearts of ordinary men.”
“….”
Gulp gulp.
The new recruit who mentioned he joined because of Si-hyun grabbed the half-full soju bottle and poured it straight down his throat.
He then slammed the soju bottle down forcefully on the table.
“…They say heroes don’t understand the minds of criminals, and it seems you don’t, Section Chief. You don’t…”
“….”
The glasses-wearing recruit took off his glasses.
And then exhaled deeply, as if the ground was opening beneath him.
“…Chief, I respected you. I did, I did.”
“….”
The increasingly growing past tense echoed painfully in Si-hyun’s ears.
Sigh.
Eventually, Si-hyun raised both hands, feeling overwhelmed by the atmosphere.
“Ha ha, I said something that came out wrong. Sorry, sorry.”
“Was that sincere?”
Kang Baek shot his head up sharply.
“Of course, it was sincere.”
“I can’t believe it without a promise. Right, everyone?”
Kang Baek looked around at the newbies, lifting his thumb high.
“That’s right.”
“I can’t believe it.”
“The Chief is right.”
The newbies cheered and clapped in response to Kang Baek’s words.
Kang Baek grinned and continued.
“Right? You can’t believe it, right? So, is there anything you all want to eat?”
“Beef, please, beef.”
“I want beef.”
“I haven’t had beef in ages.”
The quick-witted newbies started singing the praises of beef.
Kang Baek looked at Si-hyun with confidence.
“What do you say, brother?”
“…I’ll buy it. Just give me a moment.”
Si-hyun looked at them as if appreciating their camaraderie.
The newbies cheered.
“Wooaaaah!”
“As expected, it’s you, Chief!”
“Chief, we respect you!”
“That’s right; our brother is this awesome.”
Kang Baek poured more alcohol into Si-hyun’s glass, winking.
Then he raised his voice.
“We can only trust and follow Section Chief Lee Si-hyun in our Security Department! Everyone, let’s network well!”
Oh man… he’s giving such great words to the newbies on his first day.
Si-hyun let out an incredulous chuckle.
“Then let’s all toast to our true correctional officer, Chief!”
Kang Baek lifted his glass as he spoke.
The newbies simultaneously raised their glasses.
Si-hyun just smiled ambiguously, not raising his glass.
But completely undeterred, they merrily clinked their glasses together.
“To our Chief!”
“Cheers!”
‘Well, as long as the atmosphere is lively during the gathering, that’s what matters.’
Somehow, it felt like he was giving the newbies a strange image, but that was something he couldn’t help with.
Ultimately, Si-hyun also chuckled and raised his glass.