No More Thug Life, I’m Playing Music

Chapter 17: The Right Hand (1)

“You, you’re…”
Choi Pilwook’s swollen lips quivered as he spoke, his face pale with terror, his eyes wide open in disbelief.
I looked at the bandage covering one of his eyes, realizing again that he had lost sight in it. Yet, no guilt stirred within me.

“Pl-please… spare me…”
“Shh.”
I extended my hand and covered his mouth.
“We’re short on time, so let’s keep this brief.”
When he nodded, I removed my hand and threw out the bait. It was a simple setup—either he’d bite, or he wouldn’t.

“Didn’t you find it strange from the beginning? That someone from a gang like the Juseongpa would go so far as to try to kill a high schooler?”

There were only two possible responses here. He could either deny it with confusion or…

“H-how do you know about that…?”

…be startled.

Grinding my teeth, I let out a sharp breath.
So, it really was Kim Changsik who tried to kill Junsoo. Damn it. But why?
Was it because of the company shares Junsoo inherited?

Kim Changsik was the kind of man who would kill for money and power. He had even tried to kill me. But he wasn’t just an adversary; he was someone I had worked closely with for a long time. We had shared the same convictions, and I trusted him enough to turn my back to him.

Because of that trust, I believed he wouldn’t betray me in a way that involved hurting my family.

“You… were part of the Juseongpa too?”

Choi Pilwook’s nonsensical mutterings echoed in my ears.
The name “Juseongpa,” coined by the police, referred to my people.

And Kim Changsik had gone as far as to use the name of the group I had devoted my youth to in an attempt to kill my nephew.

I had been willing to let go of the fact that he tried to kill me. I had tried to move on with my life. After all, his betrayal had ultimately allowed me to escape a life I could never truly be free from.

I was a gangster, someone who could have been stabbed and killed at any time without surprise.

But when he targeted my family, it became a different story.

Though I was still resolved to leave behind the gangster life, I wasn’t planning to live like a fool, tolerating everything in silence.

“Urgh…”

A strained, painful breath escaped Choi Pilwook, snapping me out of my thoughts.

It was only then that I realized I was gripping his jaw tightly. I loosened my hold, and he spoke, his eyes bloodshot.

“Please… let me live…”

“You want to live? Then when you write your statement tomorrow, tell them this was all your own doing. Say it was out of spite because you were expelled.”

“But that would mean I…”

“Would take all the blame?”

“…”

“You can’t win against them anyway. You won’t find any evidence, and only more charges will be added to your record. Isn’t that why you’ve stayed silent so far?”

“T-that’s because…”

“And you’ve overlooked one thing. If it’s Kim Changsik…”

I trailed off, my focus shifting to the noise outside the hospital room.
Someone was approaching.

I glanced back at Choi Pilwook.

“They’ll kill you right away.”

“W-what do you mean…”

I silenced him by covering his mouth again.

“If you want to live, keep your mouth shut.”

With that, I ducked under the bed.

Moments later, a voice came from outside the room.

“-Hold on, sir. This area is restricted to authorized personnel… Urk!”
“-What, what’s going on!”
“-Argh!”

Three short cries of pain.

Then the door opened, and someone entered the room.

A man in a doctor’s gown approached the bed. His light yet heavy footsteps echoed.
Beneath the gown, I caught a glimpse of black sneakers.

“Huff… huff…”

From above, I heard Choi Pilwook’s uneven, panicked breathing.

I remained cautious of his possible actions, slipping my hand into my pocket. I clenched the object I had taken from the police station earlier, waiting.

The man drew closer.

When he was just one step away—close enough that I could touch his foot—the man bent down, peering under the bed.

He smiled behind his mask.

“Heh.”

“What the hell are you laughing at?”

I immediately swung the pen in my hand.

The tip struck the man’s temple, piercing through skin and scraping bone.

“Argh!”

Blood splattered across the floor as the man grabbed at his temple and fell backward.

I darted out from under the bed, driving my knee into his face before he could recover. He crumpled to the ground, limp and unconscious.

Thunk—

The syringe he had been holding rolled across the floor.

“Sh-shit…”

On the bed, Choi Pilwook was trembling uncontrollably.

“They really were going to kill me… even though I did everything they told me…”

“Do you finally understand the kind of world you were trying to step into?”

I responded coldly, disdain evident in my tone.

“Foolish bastard.”

I crouched over the man sprawled on the floor and pulled off his mask.

As I had suspected, he wasn’t Korean.

Searching his pockets, I found a phone. Using his fingerprint, I unlocked it and found photos of me entering the hospital room.

It was a burner phone—there were no call logs or messages. I deleted all the photos before placing the phone back in his pocket.

Then I turned to Choi Pilwook.

His lips were trembling as he bit them nervously.
“If you want to live, do as I say. No matter how much the detectives press you, say it was all your own doing.”
“…”
“That way, at least you’ll walk into prison on your own two feet.”
“And… what happens after that?”
“Live like a dead man until I come for you.”

Dragging the unconscious man out of the hospital room, I added one last warning.
“Oh, and if you so much as breathe a word about seeing me, I’ll find you and kill you. No matter where you are.”
“I-I understand…”

Choi Pilwook nodded, his eyes fixed on the pen tip still clenched in my hand.

Outside the hospital room, three police officers lay sprawled on the floor.
I found a pair of handcuffs on one of them and used them to restrain the unconscious man. I stuffed his mouth with his mask and anything else I could find, ensuring he wouldn’t be able to bite down no matter the situation. Finally, I tied his legs together and carefully checked the condition of the officers.

They were simply unconscious.

“Tsk tsk.”

I went to the empty nurse’s station, took out a small notepad and some medical tape, and scribbled a note with my pen:

“Keep this secret.”

Next to the black ink, a red smudge of blood appeared.

I stuck the note to the unconscious man’s temple like a bandage before leaving the hospital.

****

The case progressed quickly.

Money, law, and connections—when the three come together, there’s no stopping them.

Choi Pilwook, with his prior offenses taken into account, received the juvenile court’s maximum sentence of ten years. I, on the other hand, was acquitted.

Now, I had to figure out how to protect Junsoo from Kim Changsik.

*****

“Hey, gangster, aren’t you heading to the studio?”

After finishing my day and leaving school, I ran into Choo Minji.

Normally, I would have bumped into Kim Bom and Junsoo around this time, too, but today, neither of them was here.

Kim Bom was at her academy, and Junsoo was still hospitalized.

“I have somewhere else to be today.”

“Really? I was hoping to settle accounts today.”

She winked and rubbed her thumb and forefinger together.

The way she pretended to be cheerful while glancing at me for reassurance was endearing enough that I forced a smile.

“See? You’re so charming when you smile.”

“I know.”

“…Anyway, I’ve been getting a lot of calls about the YouTube thing these past few days. There’s ad offers and even a famous BJ asking to do a collaboration live stream.”

“I’m not really into that stuff.”

“Well… you know what they say about striking while the iron is hot.”

“Uh-huh.”

Choo Minji shook her head and continued.

“Being a hot topic on the internet only lasts for a moment, and it fades just as quickly. Musicians might have staying power, but ordinary folks won’t recognize how amazing you are for long.”

“Just handle it however you want. I’ll do most of it anyway.”

“Okay, leave it to me.”

She gave me a thumbs-up before walking toward the school gate, her eyes glued to her phone as she moved quickly.

I wasn’t sure what she was so focused on, but one thing was certain—her skills were top-notch.

Thanks to her, I had nearly settled all the settlement money.

Sometimes, despite her small stature, she seemed incredibly dependable.

“Make sure you eat properly,” I said as a parting remark.

Choo Minji waved and smiled brightly.

“You too, gangster! Don’t cause trouble—and don’t hit anyone, no matter what!”

As soon as she disappeared, I entered the bathroom of a nearby building.

I changed into the black tracksuit I’d packed in my bag, put on a black cap, and donned a black mask.

Today was the day I would reclaim my right-hand man.

****

The weather had turned chilly, with faint wisps of breath visible at night.

“Not here either…”

Standing at the entrance of a sauna, I exhaled deeply.

I had searched every nightlife spot the guy might frequent, but he was nowhere to be found.

I had even visited three saunas he often went to, but still no sign of him.

There was no way someone with his bulk could disappear into a rat hole.

And it was equally unlikely he had joined another gang.

“Ah…”

Suddenly, a place came to mind.

I remembered the smug look on his face when he bragged about having someone he loved.

They were still dating before I “died,” so chances were good they were still together now.

That’s where I’d look next.

****

A short while later, I arrived by taxi at a one-room housing area near a university.

This place was just as lively as a nightlife district, with plenty of drunken people around.

Retracing my memories, I reached a nail salon.

Through the glass storefront, I saw a brown-haired woman sitting cross-legged, watching TV.

I was certain she was the woman from the photos.

I stepped inside.

“Welcome~”

She stood up to greet me.

I gave a short nod and got straight to the point.

“Are you Ducheol’s fiancée?”

“…Fiancée?”

Her brows furrowed as she looked me up and down.

“Oh, my apologies. I misspoke. I’m here to see Ducheol’s uncle.”

“And who are you?”

“I’m Baek Junsoo.”

It was the response I had prepared in advance. Even if she didn’t recognize my face, she would surely know the name.

“Baek Junsoo? Ah…”

A look of pity crossed her face.

“I’ve heard about you. It must have been devastating… But what brings you here?”

“I’m looking for my uncle. I haven’t been able to reach him or figure out where he is.”

“Ah… I’m so sorry. I broke up with Ducheol.”

“Is that so.”

“After President Baek… no, after your uncle died, he spiraled out of control. He drank constantly and ended up being kicked out of the company. After that, his behavior was no longer human, so I broke up with him.”

“I see. My apologies for bothering you.”

I bowed politely and left the shop.

“Damn it…”

I recalled Ma Ducheol’s outbursts when he claimed he had found the love of his life.

Fool.

What was I to him, really…?

As I mulled over where to head next, a labored breathing sound reached my ears.

Huff… huff…

I turned my head toward the source.

A dark alley next to the building.

A large figure stood there, outlined in the shadows. The man’s head turned in my direction, and at that moment, a passing motorcycle’s light illuminated his smooth, bald head.

My mouth moved before I could think.

“…Ma Ducheol?”

At the sound of his name, the large figure stepped out of the shadows.

He wore mismatched clothing for the weather: shorts and a rumpled shirt. A bottle of alcohol dangled from one hand. His face was unkempt, with a menacing expression and a scruffy beard.

It was Ma Ducheol, but not the one I remembered.

“Who the hell are you…”

His tongue was slurred, and his eyes unfocused. His face was flushed, and the corners of his mouth were stained with food.

How far had he fallen?

Suppressing my pity, I spoke calmly.

“Uncle, it’s me, Junsoo.”

I lied to gauge his mental state.

“J-Junsoo?”

The bottle slipped from his hand as he grabbed my shoulders.

The stench of alcohol hit me like a wave.

“You… you got taller?”

His nonsense prompted me to speak again.

“Uncle, can we go somewhere quiet to talk? It’s important.”

“F-follow me…”

Ducheol stumbled into the alley, and I followed, my eyes on the shiny back of his head.

A long scar caught my attention—a remnant from the past.

Ducheol had joined the gang after Kim Changsik and had always been particularly loyal to me. His work was thorough, and his discretion unparalleled.

If anyone ever asked me who I trusted most, I would answer without hesitation: Ma Ducheol.

Hah…

I had hoped he was doing well. But it seemed my death had hit him hard.

Then again, he had been driving my car that day. He had witnessed my “death” up close and only survived because I had sent him on an errand moments before it happened.

After following him in silence for some time, we arrived at a run-down motel.

There wasn’t a soul in sight.

“Come in… come in…”

Ducheol scratched his protruding belly as he climbed the stairs.

As the prospect of being alone with him loomed, doubts began to creep in.

Originally, I had planned to explain everything to him and ask him to work with me again.

But now, seeing him in this state, I couldn’t predict how he would react.

I regretted not reaching out to him sooner.

“Key… where…”

Ducheol fumbled through his pockets before pulling out a key. He inserted it into the door and turned.

As soon as the door opened, a stale odor of cigarette smoke wafted out.

Ducheol gestured for me to enter first.

“Alright…”

Frowning at the smell, I stepped inside, bracing myself for the worst—a room resembling a garbage dump.

“Hm?”

To my surprise, the room was clean.

True to Ducheol’s meticulous nature, not a scrap of trash was in sight.

New, unopened bottles of alcohol were neatly arranged on a table.

Other than the ashtray overflowing with cigarette butts, the place didn’t seem like the dwelling of a man whose life had fallen apart.

As I puzzled over the unexpected neatness, Ducheol’s voice came from behind me.

“You little shit.”

“…”

Startled, I turned around to find Ducheol standing straight, his gaze fixed on me.

His face, previously disheveled and drunk, now looked sharp and clear.

“Did Kim Changsik send you? To take me out?”

His hand held a knuckle duster—his favorite weapon.

He continued, “Did you think I was too far gone to recognize Junsoo? Are you clueless, or just plain stupid?”

“Heh…”

A laugh slipped out despite myself.

Relief washed over me, and I shouted with genuine delight.

“Ducheol! You bastard, you haven’t changed a bit!”

Grinning, I spread my arms wide, intending to embrace him in a reunion hug.

But what greeted me wasn’t a warm embrace—it was Ducheol’s massive fist.