Reality Quest: Four Lunatics in One

The next day.

Chulwoo Min strode through the school hallway with his hands shoved into his pockets. Students quickly parted to make way for him, their nervous glances betraying their unease.

'Tch, boring.' Chulwoo clicked his tongue in irritation. Yesterday, he had been with Ahrin in her classroom. However, what unfolded still grated on his nerves. Instead of making a move on her, he'd completely forgotten his initial plan. Instead, he got absorbed in the game, helping Ahrin achieve her high score. Frustrating was an understatement, he hadn't gotten the kind of "action" he wanted.

"Well, there's always a second time." A sly chuckle escaped his lips. Patience wasn't a problem for Chulwoo, he knew this wouldn't be his last close interaction with Ahrin.

"Hey, isn't that the monster from Class Six?"

"Shh, keep your voice down."

Whispers buzzed among the students as they cautiously eyed him. Chulwoo's imposing presence, his 195 cm height, muscular build, and visible tattoos snaking down his arms, made him the school's most intimidating figure. It was no wonder the first-years called him a monster, not just for his size and demeanor but also for his reputation.

Chulwoo wasn't just the top dog in his class, he had a system. From various classes, he'd secured "personal ATMs" students who paid him hefty weekly sums to avoid trouble. He spent that money indulgently on arcade games and other whims.

He continued walking toward his destination, the restroom, ignoring the whispers, though he clearly heard them. Chulwoo didn't care what people said behind his back. However, if anyone dared to say it to his face, he would relish breaking them bone by bone. So far, no one had tried, except for his personal gaming shuttle, Dowan Ha. But even Dowan was losing his usefulness. Chulwoo had only kept him around because people would pay him to let Dowan play for them. Now, with his ATM system in place, Dowan's role was redundant.

'I want to see him grow.' Chulwoo thought, a wide grin spreading across his face. Watching Dowan progress excited him. He wanted to fight auto mode Dowan, though he knew even then, it still wouldn't be enough. Still, it would be entertaining.

Lost in these thoughts, he arrived at the restroom. Opening the door, he stepped inside, only to find someone leaning against the sink.

The boy had blond hair, black eyes, and piercings. He wore the school uniform and held a vape in one hand. Chulwoo recognized him vaguely, Jaemin Shin. The blond's startled gaze met Chulwoo's briefly before he quickly looked away, flinching under the towering figure's presence.

Chulwoo walked past him without a word, heading to a urinal and unzipping his pants.

"You must be Chulwoo Min, right?" Jaemin's voice broke the silence. He was watching Chulwoo's broad back as the latter stood at the urinal.

"What do you want, blondie?" Chulwoo's voice carried a mix of curiosity and irritation.

"Nothing much. I just wanted to see the 'monster' for myself." Jaemin chuckled nervously. The label didn't bother him, especially coming from Chulwoo, but his nerves were evident. How could he not be nervous? Chulwoo's imposing height, muscular physique, and thuggish tattoos were enough to intimidate anyone.

'The title 'monster' fits him well.' Jaemin thought. Though few had seen Chulwoo in action, his reputation as a ruthless fighter was well-known. Even with his frequent absences, his presence was palpable. Stories of him crippling people for fun weren't hard to come by.

"Get to the point, idiot." Chulwoo snapped, zipping up his pants. He turned toward the sinks and began washing his hands, his expression unreadable.

Jaemin's attempt at flattery didn't work on him, this type of nonsense never did. If Jaemin thought he could toy with him, Chulwoo would gladly give him hell.

Still, it was strange. In the original storyline of the manhwa, they were supposed to already know each other, but that wasn't the case here. That suited Chulwoo just fine. Forming new relationships, or breaking them, should be entirely at the hands of this Chulwoo, the Chulwoo he had now become.

"Well, tonight, I'm meeting some girls from the all-girls high school next door at a karaoke bar." Jaemin explained quickly, sensing Chulwoo's patience thinning. The thought of ending up in a hospital bed was enough to make him tread carefully. "I was wondering if you'd like to come along."

"Girls from an all-girls high school, huh?" Chulwoo asked, a smirk tugging at his lips. He turned off the faucet, grabbed some paper towels, and dried his hands before looking down at Jaemin.

"Yeah." Jaemin nodded, relieved to see Chulwoo's interest pique at the mention of girls.

"Sure. I'll be there." Chulwoo agreed, his grin widening into something devious. The sight made Jaemin's hair stand on end.

Without another word, Chulwoo exited the restroom, leaving Jaemin alone. The blond exhaled deeply, relieved to have survived the encounter. That unsettling grin of Chulwoo's haunted him, but at least he'd agreed to come. For Jaemin, this was the first step in forming a partnership, one he hoped would help him with his plans.

Later that night, outside the karaoke bar.

Chulwoo stood in front of the building, leaning casually against the wall. He wore a simple gray t-shirt that outlined his muscular frame, black pants, and sports shoes. His tattoos and imposing stature drew stares from passersby. His presence was wild.

"Not too late, am I?" Jaemin's voice called out as he approached. Chulwoo turned his head toward him.

"Nope. Just in time." Chulwoo replied with a chuckle, straightening from his leaning position.

"Glad you agreed to come." Jaemin said with an easygoing smile, though he couldn't help but look at Chulwoo's physique. His muscles were so well-defined that Jaemin doubted even seasoned bodybuilders could match him. Still, he shook the thought away.

"Chulwoo, let's have some fun tonight." Jaemin said, trying his best to appear friendly. He hoped to gain Chulwoo's favor, making him able to get on his good side.

"And it looks like the girls are here." Jaemin added, turning around at the sound of familiar voices. Three girls were approaching them.

"Over here, girls!" Jaemin waved, catching their attention.

"You're early." One of the girls said as they reached him.

"Well, I couldn't make my new friend over here wait." Jaemin said with a smirk, gesturing toward Chulwoo, who stood behind him, his towering figure impossible to ignore.

The three girls cast curious glances at Chulwoo, their interest piqued by his intimidating appearance and the tattoos visible on his forearms. His towering height and muscular build were hard to ignore, especially for the girl with short black hair, whose curiosity was apparent in her expression. Unlike her two friends, who seemed a bit dazzled, she remained composed, studying him as though trying to figure him out.

"His name is Chulwoo Min, a cool guy." Jaemin introduced, gesturing toward him. The girls nodded, storing the name in their minds. "Well, let's head in." He added, motioning for everyone to follow.

Inside the Karaoke Room

Chulwoo sat beside the three girls, his seat coincidentally next to the short-haired one, while Jaemin took the spot opposite him across the large table. Food and drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, were spread out across the table.

"My friend's older brother works here." Jaemin explained with a grin as he opened a small bottle of soju. "The kids who hang around this area love sneaking in here for a drink."

"Yeah, I get it." Chulwoo replied, smirking as he grabbed a bottle of premium whiskey and poured himself a generous glass. He took a slow sip, savoring the burn.

"You like the strong stuff, huh?" Jaemin commented, noting Chulwoo's drink choice.

"Better than most." Chulwoo replied with a slight grin, taking another sip.

"By the way, don't worry about the bill. Order whatever you want. It's on me tonight." Jaemin laughed, exuding confidence.

"Heh, lucky, aren't you?" Chulwoo chuckled, his gaze locking on Jaemin. "Having your own personal wallet, able to afford all this. You're really living the good life."

"It seems so." Jaemin said, taking a casual sip of his drink. But he was surprised that Chulwoo knew about his wallet, though he couldn't help but feel slightly uneasy under Chulwoo's knowing smirk.

Before Jaemin could respond further, the door to the room opened, revealing someone new. The boy had brown hair and black eyes and was dressed casually in a jacket, shirt, and sneakers.

"Jihan, you paid, right?" Jaemin asked, narrowing his eyes at the newcomer, who seemed a bit nervous.

"I told them to give you guys an extra two hours." Jihan said quickly.

"Ha… You think we came here just to play for two hours? Haha." Jaemin chuckled at Jihan's words, but his expression quickly darkened. "You idiot." He said coldly, his eyes narrowing into a deadly glare that made Jihan flinch. "I got a new friend over here, and you just said you paid for only two hours? Are you fucking retarded?" Jaemin continued, his sharp tone cutting through the room as Jihan broke into a nervous sweat under the pressure.

'New friend?' Jihan's thoughts raced as his eyes shifted toward the figure he had barely noticed earlier. But when he finally looked at him, his entire body froze. 'I-isn't that…' His heart began pounding as recognition set in. It was Chulwoo Min, the monster of Class Six.

But it wasn't just that. Chulwoo's huge smile was directed right at him, and it sent a chill down his spine. 'It's over.' Jihan cried internally, his legs threatening to buckle. If Chulwoo decided to target him, he'd never escape his already miserable life. It would only get worse.

'This funny guy.' Chulwoo mused as he studied the panicked Jihan. Despite how he looked now, he knew Jihan was far from an ordinary victim. This guy wasn't weak, he knew countless martial arts. But he was too stupid to use them, held back by the trauma of years of relentless bullying.

"Jaemin, this guy seems to be your wallet, huh?" Chulwoo finally spoke, his gaze shifting from Jihan to Jaemin.

"Yeah. What do you think?" Jaemin replied, unsure of Chulwoo's intentions.

"What do I think?" Chulwoo's grin widened, his sharp eyes fixed on Jihan. "I think this guy could tear you apart if he wanted to."

"W-What?" Jaemin blinked, caught off guard. Was this a joke? Or was Chulwoo serious?

Jihan, meanwhile, froze in place. His heart pounded as Chulwoo's words hit too close to home. Was he mocking him? Or did Chulwoo actually know something about his past?

"Are you deaf, idiot?" Chulwoo snapped at Jaemin, irritation creeping into his voice. "I said this guy could literally rip you to shreds if he tried. You're just lucky something's holding him back."

Jaemin stared at Jihan, who was visibly trembling. He dismissed Chulwoo's words as some kind of cruel joke. There was no way this timid, shaking boy could be a threat.

'How does he know?' Jihan thought, his mind racing. His secret, his years of training in martial arts and the trauma that kept him from fighting back, was something he'd never shared with anyone. Yet, Chulwoo's words struck a nerve, leaving him visibly shaken. Jihan knew he wouldn't get an answer and was too scared to even talk to Chulwoo. With a sigh, he went to sit next to Jaemin, keeping his distance.

Chulwoo momentarily kept his eyes on Jihan before turning to the girl seated next to him.

"Hey, you." Chulwoo called out, making the girl turn to him with an expressionless look. "What's your name?" He asked with a smirk.

What responded to him was silence. The girl's eyes turned cold as she glared at him.

"Heh." Chulwoo chuckled, his eyes unflinching under her cold gaze. "Ice queen it is, then." He said with a smirk, causing her eyes to narrow.

"Siyeon." the girl suddenly said.

"Hmm, what was that?" Chulwoo's smile widened.

"Siyeon. My name is Siyeon, and don't call me Ice Queen." She said, her gaze fixed on Chulwoo's smug face.

"Siyeon, huh?" Chulwoo repeated her name. "My name's Chulwoo Min." He introduced himself, taking a sip from his glass and exhaling as he enjoyed the burn.

"By the way." Chulwoo continued, his smile widening as he scooted closer to Siyeon, closing the distance. He wrapped his arm around the back of her neck, making her eyes widen in surprise. The others in the room were equally startled by Chulwoo's boldness. "Why don't we get to know more about each other beyond just names..." He leaned slightly forward, his head tilted down as he glanced at Siyeon with a smug smile. "But with actions, don't you think so, Siyeon?"

Siyeon was momentarily stunned. She didn't expect this kind of sudden approach. "What are you doing?" She asked, tilting her head slightly up to meet Chulwoo's gaze. Her eyes grew colder.

"What am I doing? Isn't it obvious?" Chulwoo's grin grew wider as he met her gaze without flinching. "I'm cuddling my new little kitten. Isn't that allowed?" His words startled Siyeon, catching her off guard.

"And besides." Chulwoo's eyes gleamed with something unsettling, making Siyeon uneasy. His intense gaze pierced hers. "We can also make-"

The door to the karaoke room suddenly opened, and a figure walked in. It was a student, fat, muscular, with slicked-back hair.

"Ah, there was a little trouble on the way here, so I got delayed while taking care of it." The newcomer announced.

"Haha, you're here!" Jaemin said, smiling as he turned to Chulwoo, who remained seated and staring at Siyeon, seemingly frozen. "Chulwoo, this is my friend Manchoon, the one I told you about, whose brother works here."

But Chulwoo didn't respond.

"Uh? Chulwoo?" Jaemin asked, unsettled by the silence.

"Oi, Jaemin." Chulwoo finally spoke, his voice so cold it made Jaemin flinch.

"Do you have some sort of death wish?" Chulwoo straightened his back, placing his glass on the table as he glared at Jaemin, whose back was now soaked with sweat. "Did I say you could invite someone else here? And that someone being a fucking pig?" Chulwoo's face was tense, veins bulging as he glanced at Manchoon, his fury evident. He wanted to kill this fucker for interrupting him.

"Huh?" Manchoon's expression twisted with anger. "You bastard, who're you calling a pig?" he barked, his gaze locked on Chulwoo. "You wanna die-"

Before Manchoon could finish, a hand gripped his neck and slammed him to the ground with a loud impact, cracks forming on the floor. The sudden movement startled everyone in the room. Their eyes widened as they saw Chulwoo on top of Manchoon, gripping his neck. Manchoon struggled desperately to break free.

"You talk too much, pig." Chulwoo spat venomously, his left hand keeping Manchoon pinned. "Want me to split your head in half?" His angry expression twisted into a sadistic smile.

'What the hell?' Jaemin thought, his eyes glued to the scene. He couldn't process what he was seeing. One moment Chulwoo was seated, the next, he was pinning Manchoon to the ground. It was as if the seated Chulwoo was still there but was fading slowly. Jaemin nervously gulped, too scared to say a word.

The two girls, along with Siyeon, were stunned. Siyeon especially felt unsettled, she could've sworn Chulwoo had been right next to her, but in an instant, he was on top of Manchoon. Oddly, she could still feel the lingering warmth of his presence near her, though it slowly faded away. The speed of his movement left her questioning everything.

Jihan, on the side, was equally stunned. He couldn't comprehend how Chulwoo moved so quickly, nor could he ignore the sheer ease with which Chulwoo restrained Manchoon.

'What the fuck is this?' Manchoon's thoughts raced as he struggled. He desperately tried to move Chulwoo's arm, but it wouldn't budge. The grip around his neck felt like steel. 'Who the hell is this guy?'

"I'll do just that," Chulwoo said, his grin widening as he stared down at Manchoon. "You see, I usually avoid this because I don't have time for the feds, but you've really pissed me off." His crazed eyes gleamed as his right hand moved behind his back, seemingly trying to get something.

"Hmm?" Chulwoo suddenly stopped, not being able to feel the item he was aiming to grab, he glanced back over his shoulder. "Heh. Seems I forgot it. I rarely use it these days. Habits are something, huh?" His smile returned as he looked at Manchoon. "But I still got this." He raised his fist.

"Hope you can eat these, piggy." He taunted before raining a series of brutal punches onto Manchoon's face. Each impact echoed through the room.

"How about it, piggy?" Chulwoo laughed maniacally as he continued the assault, the floor beneath Manchoon's head cracking further. "Are you having fun? Cause I sure am! Hahaha!"

'He's crazy.' The thought was unanimous among everyone in the room. They watched in stunned silence, unable to move or speak as Chulwoo laughed while mercilessly pummeling Manchoon, whose fate seemed sealed.

"Heh, much better now." Chulwoo chuckled after some time, stopping as he admired his work. Manchoon lay unconscious, his face bloodied and unrecognizable.

"This look suits you better." Chulwoo mocked as he stood up, talking to Manchoon, who was out cold. "You're lucky that there'll be a second time, but..." His smile widened, his tone laced with deadly intent. "There won't be a third time at that."

"Now then." Chulwoo started, picking up Manchoon by his shirt. "You guys stay here." He said, walking to the door. "I'll be right back." He added before exiting the room, leaving it in silence.

In the hallway

Chulwoo continued walking through multiple doors that led to other hallways until he saw someone he wanted to see. It was a large man, tall, muscular, with slicked-back hair and dark eyes, wearing a karaoke staff uniform. His name was Manok.

"Hey, you." Chulwoo called out, making Manok, who stood in the distance, turn to him. "Catch." He said, tossing Manchoon toward him.

Any other person would likely have been crushed by Manchoon's weight, but Manok effortlessly caught him.

"Huh?" Manok froze as he saw who he had caught. Recognition set in, and his face twisted with fury. It was his own brother, bloodied and disfigured beyond recognition.

Veins bulged on Manok's face as his anger reached its peak. "Was it you who did this, you bastard?" he growled, gently placing Manchoon on the ground and pacing toward Chulwoo.

Chulwoo also stepped forward, the two men stopping face-to-face, their heights perfectly matched. This surprised Manok, he'd rarely encountered anyone who could stand eye-to-eye with him.

"Yeah, I did this." Chulwoo said with a smirk, his words only stoking Manok's rage. "And you must be his brother." He added with a mocking chuckle. "A hippo and a pig, what a strange combination. Don't you think so?"

"Die." Manok wasted no time, throwing a punch at Chulwoo's face. But before the hit could land, his eyes widened in shock. Chulwoo had vanished.

'Where did he-' Manok's thoughts were cut short by a voice from above.

"You really are..." Chulwoo's voice rang out from above. He was currently balanced in a handstand position, his palm planted firmly on Manok's head. "A hippo." Chulwoo added as he drove his leg down with immense force, slamming Manok's head, slamming him onto the ground. The ground beneath Manok caved in on impact, forming a crater as chunks of debris flew in all directions. A shockwave rippled through the hallway, accompanied by a tremor that seemed to shake the entire building.

"Maybe not." Chulwoo said, standing over Manok, who was now unconscious. He didn't expect to knock him out that fast, considering how much he held back. "Guess I didn't hold back enough."

"What the fuck was that?!"

"Yeah, it felt like an earthquake!"

Suddenly, the doors to karaoke rooms in the hallway opened as groups of young people filed out. Their attention quickly turned to the scene before them.

"Wait, isn't that Manchoon?"

"Shit, you're right, and Manok too!"

"Did that guy do this?"

They stared at Chulwoo, standing tall and unbothered. His intimidating presence, coupled with his height and build, gave them pause. But emboldened by their numbers, they surrounded him.

"First, a pig. Then a hippo. Now what? A bunch of rats." Chulwoo taunted with a smirk, his disdain evident.

"This asshole!"

"Get him!"

Enraged, the group rushed at him.

"Ten seconds." Chulwoo muttered as they charged.

Exactly ten seconds later, Chulwoo was still standing in the same spot, completely untouched. The once-lively group now lay scattered around him, bloodied and unconscious.

"That was quite entertaining, I guess." Chulwoo muttered, pulling out a pack of cigarettes. He lit one, took a puff, and exhaled slowly, the smoke curling in the air. He turned around, heading back to the room.

Chulwoo walked down the hallway, cigarette in hand. As he approached, he saw Jaemin standing right outside indront of the door.

"What are you doing?" Chulwoo asked, his tone calm as he walked closer.

Jaemin turned nervously at the sound of his voice. "Ah, Chulwoo... You see, uh..." He hesitated, clearly uneasy. "Everyone left."

Chulwoo stopped in front of him, blowing out a puff of smoke.

"I tried to stop them, but..." Jaemin trailed off, his voice trembling. 

"I see." Chulwoo replied flatly. He took a final drag of his cigarette, crushed it underfoot, and exhaled the remaining smoke.

Without warning, Chulwoo grabbed Jaemin's face and slammed him into the ground, the impact knocking him unconscious instantly.

"Pathetic." Chulwoo muttered, glaring at Jaemin's limp form. "Couldn't even hold together one good night."

Turning away, Chulwoo headed for the exit. His thoughts drifted to Siyeon, a sly smile curling his lips.

"That girl..." He muttered, licking his lips. "This won't be the last time we meet."