Vincent pulled out his smartphone and began recording.
The scene before him was all too familiar—a group of three boys towering over a skinny middle schooler, their faces twisted with amusement as they toyed with their victim.
One of them ripped open a bag of chips and dumped it over the boy's head.
The other kicked his leg, demanding something from him.
The poor kid just stood there, shaking.
Vincent kept recording, but his stomach twisted in disgust.
'What is this? Do people actually wake up one day and decide to be bullies? A bunch of kids, for that matter?'
The scene was almost too irritating to bear.
He could feel Blue's own revulsion seeping into his mind. The hatred, the irritation, the sheer injustice of it all.
These kids—they should be studying, making good grades, impressing their parents.
Instead, they were out here cornering the weak like predators.
Vincent let out a quiet sigh, his last shred of hesitation fading.
He stopped recording.
Shoved his phone into his pocket.
Then—
"Hey!"
He stepped out from the corner, striding straight toward them.
The bullies froze, then turned, glaring.
'Would you look at these naughty little brats?'
Vincent crossed his arms.
"What are you guys doing here? Why aren't you in school?"
The blond one in the middle, slightly chubby with monolid eyes, scoffed.
"What's your business, jobless bro? Why don't you go ahead and mind your own business?"
Vincent felt his heart shatter.
The tone, the mockery, the arrogance—it was all too familiar.
And it told him everything he needed to know.
These ones were irredeemable.
'But how? How? Why? …Or is this just how ruined the world is getting?'
His fingers curled into a fist.
His resolve to restructure the world only grew stronger.
Before, it had just been a pipe dream—something he hoped for.
But now?
Now he had a variable.
Vincent's frown deepened as he took in the three bullies.
The fattest one was the largest, making the other two appear smaller by comparison. But they were all chubby, built from privilege and comfort.
Then he looked at the bullied boy—head lowered, shoulders slumped.
Vincent knew better than anyone—beating these kids up wouldn't solve anything.
If anything, it would only make things worse for the poor kid.
The bullying would intensify.
And one day, he might end up making a stupid decision—just like Vincent almost had.
But at the same time…
Vincent couldn't just walk away.
He sighed, then looked the blond boy in the eye.
"You're quite rude, aren't you? Your parents didn't teach you any better?"
He thickened his voice, attempting to sound intimidating.
It was pathetic.
The blond boy laughed.
"Look at the poor man. He thinks forming a thug voice will get to us. Do you even know who I am? Do you know who my father is?!"
Vincent's patience snapped.
SLAP.
His hand moved before his mind.
A sharp crack rang through the air.
The blond's cheek reddened, his head snapping to the side.
Vincent gasped dramatically, pressing his hands to his face.
"Oops. My hand just moved on its own. What is this?"
The blond boy slowly turned back to him, scowling.
Vincent stared at him down.
"You should learn how to talk to your elders."
Then—he pulled out his phone.
"I have everything recorded."
The bullies froze.
"All I need to do is post this online with the right caption, and I'll destroy your parents' reputations."
Their expressions shifted instantly—from arrogance to fear.
They tried to act tough, but Vincent could see the panic creeping in.
"Oh, you think I'm bluffing?"
He raised his phone.
"Touch him one more time, and we'll see if I'm lying, you sacks of watery nuts!"
The fat one hesitated.
"Let's just leave, Jasper. This bro is lame."
'Yeah, thanks for the reminder.'
Jasper—the blond boy—hissed.
"Don't think this is over. My brother is a high schooler at Mereung. I'll report this to him!"
Vincent rolled his eyes.
"Yeah… Scram. I don't care."
Jasper shot him one last glare, eyes dark with anger.
There was something unnerving about that look.
But Vincent didn't care.
The three bullies turned to leave.
And then—
[You are on the verge of failing the quest.]
[The instruction was to beat them up.]
[Steel yourself for the coming punishment.]
Vincent's heart stopped.
'No… no… no… I can't go through that pain again!'
His fists clenched.
He had no choice.
Even though they were already retreating—
Even though attacking them now felt… unjust.
'Damn you, Blue! Making me compromise myself!'
With a deep scowl, Vincent charged forward.
He shut his eyes painfully—
Then slammed his palm into the fat one's head.
"WHAT THE HELL?!"
Jasper whirled around, eyes wide in shock.
Vincent lowered his hoodie, shadowing his gaze.
"What? You were freely beating the crap out of that kid just now. Don't you think it's unfair if I let you walk away so easily?"
He mimicked the low kick Jasper had done earlier in the video—
And sent the blond boy stumbling.
Jasper gritted his teeth and lunged at him.
But their kicks were wild, untrained—Vincent could tell.
Still, they landed.
Because Vincent, too, had no experience fighting.
He flinched, trying to dodge, but he was clumsy—his feet tripped over themselves.
Jasper swung wildly, missing more times than he landed.
Vincent dodged—barely—then threw a clumsy punch—
And hit Jasper's face.
The blond stumbled back, blood spraying from his nose.
Vincent blinked.
'It landed?'
The fat one lunged at him—but Vincent regained his footing and slammed his fist into his stomach.
The third kid tried to jump in—but Vincent caught him by the shoulders, delivering a knee to his gut.
Jasper, groaning, tried again—
Vincent, angry, tackled him to the ground—pinning him down.
And punched him.
Again.
And again.
The two fat bullies stared in horror—
…Then ran.
Jasper stared up at Vincent, his face bloodied, eyes wide with fear.
Then—he scrambled to his feet and bolted.
Vincent watched him go, his chest heaving.
His fists trembled.
His blood boiled.
And…
'Goddammit… Why does it feel so damn good?'
---
[Quest Completed.]
+1 Normal Card
+1 Rare Card
+1 Unique Card (For obedience. The vile existence is so irritated by your fight that he might puke, but this is a start.)
---
"Damn you, vile existence…"
Then—
"Thank you, sir."
Vincent turned.
The skinny boy stood behind him, shaking.
Vincent sighed.
"No… I didn't do it for you."
The kid lowered his head.
"No one listens."
Vincent hesitated.
Then held out his phone.
"I'll listen. Wanna have my hotline?"
The kid's eyes lit up.
"Yes, big bro!"
Vincent laughed.
"Let's… ease up on the 'big bro' thing, yeah?"