A Classroom of Power and Pain

There is a common misunderstanding about the law.
It is the realm of civil law and criminal law.
Juvenile delinquents and delinquent minors were also included.
Because children lack the capacity to take responsibility for their wrongdoings, and furthermore, because they are still immature, the law defines them as ‘criminal minors’.

‘And there’s a reason why the word ‘criminal’ is attached.’

Because it is a story that applies only to criminal law.
And the negligence of these ‘minors’ is, in civil law, to put it simply, passed on to the ‘legal guardian’.
Criminal law and civil law were strictly different areas. Because even juvenile delinquents could not avoid responsibility in civil lawsuits.
And that Oh Uiseong had also visited ‘Justice’ several times, asking for a solution to the problem.

‘Of course, I didn’t take the case.’

Won Doyeong’s homeroom teacher, Im Hyojin, let out a sigh and then opened her mouth again.

“My dream has been to be a teacher for a very long time. This is my first school. I was so excited, wondering how I could lead the children well, how I could be a good teacher…”

The reality was so different from that.

“The first time I learned that the children were cutting in line, I sent them to the back of the line, telling them not to. But then…”

Im Hyojin lowered her head for a moment and then raised it again with a painful expression.

“I had to write an apology letter right away. It’s a very shameful thing, but I couldn’t help but think that I was lucky that it ended at that.”

She added that City Councilman Oh Uiseong’s wife had visited the school, and that Im Hyojin had knelt and begged in the principal’s office.

“Just as that child said… last year’s homeroom teacher really quit school.”

Then that meant that Councilman Oh’s influence on this school was not small.
I swallowed a sigh inwardly and then asked another question.

“Then do the parents of the students who were assaulted by Oh Seunghyeon know about this fact?”

Im Hyojin slowly shook her head with a face that said that was the most painful part for her.

“The apology letter was the price for not letting the truth be known to the outside. A lawyer even came with them.”

Im Hyojin’s gaze was strange when she pronounced the word ‘lawyer’.

[I don’t know what kind of… what kind of lawyer would take on a case like this.]

‘It seems like this can’t be ended moderately.’

Come to think of it, the children whom Oh Seunghyeon had pointed out as having been hit by him were all of an ordinary appearance.

‘A child is already…’

And that was probably what Oh Seunghyeon’s parents had told him.

‘They must have told him to pick on the kids who wouldn’t cause trouble…’

As my thoughts reached this point, a thought suddenly came to mind.

‘So that’s why Doyeong came to the office?’

I took out my business card from my pocket and handed it to Im Hyojin.

“Here is my business card. If I request the personal information of the other parents here, it could cause trouble for you.”

Those kinds of people would probably try to find all sorts of faults with Im Hyojin.
The situation could also become complicated, seeing that a lawyer had even come with them.

“Doyeong’s real uncle will contact you soon. Please share it then. That way, no harm will come to you.”
“…Thank you.”

As if it were an unexpected situation, Im Hyojin took my business card and looked at me with a dazed expression.

“You must have a lot of hardships, teacher. Then I’ll be going now. I’ll be in touch.”
“Yes, yes.”

Swish.

As soon as I opened the door and came out, Won Doyeong was standing in front of me.

“Doyeong.”
“Are you done talking with the teacher?”
“Yeah, how did you know I was here?”
“I just know.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at Won Doyeong’s old-man-like answer.
I bent my knees to match Won Doyeong’s eye level and gently stroked his head.

“What am I going to do, I’ve ruined Doyeong’s good day. I’m sorry.”

Instead of answering my words, Won Doyeong just stared at me.
I couldn’t read this child’s expression. Because too many expressions flashed by in a moment.
Doubt, hope, and then an expressionless face again…

‘No matter how I look at it, he’s a mini Won Youngoh…’

Then he asked me a question that was neither a complaint nor an annoyance.

“Are you going to solve this?”
“Yeah, I have to.”
“Hmm…”

What is this little head thinking about?
Won Doyeong thought for a moment and then, with his arms crossed, answered me.

“There must be a reason why my uncle trusts you. So I’ll leave it to you too.”

I smiled and, in order to confirm the thought I had realized from my conversation with Im Hyojin, asked Won Doyeong.

“Is this the reason you came to see Lawyer Won?”
“I wonder.”

How much his answer sounded like an affirmation, this little boy probably doesn’t know.
Just in case, I carefully held Won Doyeong’s hand and asked one last time.

“It wasn’t Seunghyeon who did that to you, was it?”
“…Even if you’re not friends, you shouldn’t hit them. I don’t play with kids who don’t know what even first graders know.”

And so, the mini Won Youngoh let go of my hand and turned around and went back to the classroom.

[It seems you’ve been had, lawyer.]

‘I think so too.’

But as a person that Doyeong’s ‘uncle’ trusts, I couldn’t disappoint Doyeong.

‘Ugh, I shouldn’t have put so much effort into my clothes.’

[No. You look good. Just like a teacher.]

‘Is that a compliment?’

[At least it’s not an insult.]

‘But if I go to the office like this, I’ll be teased to no end, so I should change. They’ll probably ask me why I’m wearing a light blue knit.’

[I agree with that.]

And so, I left Won Doyeong’s school.

Chime.

A short while after I returned to the office, Won Youngoh also returned from his trial.
With a coffee from Libra.

“Ah, Lawyer Cha. Did you have a good trip?”

Won Youngoh’s face, as he handed me the coffee and asked that question, looked somewhat excited, and I couldn’t help but move my lips.
He cherished his nephew so much, and even though he didn’t show it, Won Youngoh must have been quite disappointed.
The fact that I couldn’t tell him good news was bitter.
I slowly shook my head.

“Did something happen?”
“Well…”

I slowly told Won Youngoh what had happened at the school.
Jeong Donghyeok and Lee Ilwoo were also present.

“…No matter how you sugarcoat it, this is school violence. The perpetrator’s parents are even pressuring the teachers.”

Won Youngoh answered with a frown.

“Councilman Oh is a person who has been mentioned a few times in relation to abuse of power. He always settled it with money.”
“But I didn’t know his son would be like that too. Though it might be a given.”

Jeong Donghyeok added in agreement and then sighed.
Won Youngoh ran a hand through his hair.

“School violence is a serious problem these days, but I didn’t know it was so close. And in Doyeong’s class…”

Lee Ilwoo tilted his head as if he couldn’t understand.

“Doyeong’s school is not a small place, is it? But if they’re hushing this up there, wouldn’t the backlash from the other parents be even bigger?”
“On the contrary, they tend to hush it up even more. But for children this young…”

Jeong Donghyeok shook his head as if he had heard something he shouldn’t have.
I brought up the fact that I had been curious about all along.

“Has school violence among such young children been a major issue before? I’m not sure if I’m missing something, or if this is an unusual case…”

This time, Won Youngoh shook his head and answered.

“I’ve seen a few cases of upper elementary school students, but this is the first time I’ve seen it this young. And in a way, it’s ‘gang assault’. When you consider the nature of the crime, age is no longer the issue.”

After Won Youngoh’s answer, the office became quiet.
It seemed that everyone was lost in their own thoughts.
Won Youngoh seemed to be worried about his nephew, and Lee Ilwoo had a look that said he couldn’t understand the situation. Jeong Donghyeok seemed to be pondering how to solve this situation.
In the meantime, I thought about the Oh Uiseong father and son.

‘If a city councilman has this much power… When thinking about re-election, he would at least manage his image to some extent.’

I looked at Won Youngoh, whose face was not much different from usual.

‘His expression doesn’t waver at all.’

People who don’t know him might think his face is the same as usual, but Won Youngoh was more serious than anyone else right now.

‘His eyes have hardened even more.’

I gave the answer to the question that Won Youngoh was probably thinking.
Because it seemed like he couldn’t bring himself to ask, just in case.

“Doyeong was fine.”
“…Really?”
“Yes. I asked Doyeong myself. And it seems the children also know each other’s parents’ professions to some extent.”

As I confirmed it once more, Won Youngoh’s eyes returned to their usual state.

“Councilman Oh Uiseong probably knows how his son is behaving, so he must have told him which children not to touch.”

Won Doyeong’s family was a family of prosecutors.
And since the parents of the other students would all know that Won Doyeong’s father and grandfather were a chief prosecutor and a former prosecutor general…

“…That’s even more vicious. Doesn’t that mean he picked which children to bully?”

I nodded at Lee Ilwoo, who was speaking with suppressed anger.
And I opened my mouth again.

“When I looked up Councilman Oh Uiseong, only similar news and information came up, as if it were done by a company. I’m curious about what you know, Lawyer Won.”

Won Youngoh crossed his arms as was his habit and answered.
It was a small habit of Won Youngoh’s that came out when he was talking about an unpleasant person.

“He’s a master of image management. He doesn’t spare any expense in hiring lawyers. I also know that he has secretly paid a considerable amount of settlement money.”
“Settlement money?”
“Yes, the details are not well known, but given the current situation, it’s probably his son’s problem. He must have been cleaning up after him in a similar way over and over again.”
“So he’s covered it up several times, but it will be harder to hide it now.”
“Yes, because ‘we’ know. And besides, Lawyer Cha.”

Won Youngoh emphasized the word ‘we’ and then looked at me and shrugged.
I also shrugged.
With a little bit of evasion that said I didn’t know what he was talking about.

“Then he might be starting to work under the table right now.”

Won Youngoh nodded at Jeong Donghyeok’s words and took a sip of the coffee he hadn’t been able to drink all along.

“Yes, he’ll be prepared. And since it’s not a juvenile delinquent but a delinquent minor, there’s a high probability that he’ll think there’s nothing we can do.”

I nodded at Won Youngoh, who was asking what I was going to do now, and opened my mouth.

“I’ve already requested the contact information of the parents of the children in the class from the homeroom teacher. You can contact them, Lawyer Won.”
“Civil?”

Won Youngoh, who had understood what I meant, asked back lightly.
In fact, there were more civil trials than criminal trials.
The law was more closely related to daily life than you might think.
I also took a sip of the moderately cooled coffee and nodded like Won Youngoh a moment ago.

“I’m thinking of meeting the parents of the victim students first.”