Chapter 20
Afterwards, they moved to the back of the building.
It was late at night, almost dawn, and the alley was quiet.
Daeho and Geneger, along with their respective groups, faced each other across the alley.
Daeho looked around at the situation.
Then, as reality hit him, he let out a bitter smile.
“First night off, and this is what I get.”
“If you’re scared now, kneel down and scream like a monkey, apologizing for your mistake.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you do that soon enough.”
“Heh. Big mouth, huh?”
Swish, swish.
Geneger swung his massive fists with precision.
Even drunk, he didn’t look like a normal threat.
Malcolm flinched and tried to stop Daeho.
“He looks like he really trained in boxing. Richard, maybe you should stop now.”
“Would you?”
“No.”
Malcolm couldn’t hold Daeho back anymore.
It was that humiliating—being mocked like this.
Emma and Amanda still looked at Daeho with worried eyes.
Then,
“Start!”
Whoosh!
Geneger shouted and threw a punch.
It was sharp and fast, far from amateur level.
But Daeho didn’t flinch.
‘Dirty and cowardly.’
He discarded any last shred of mercy.
Daeho easily dodged the incoming punch.
Whoosh!
“You little—!”
Geneger’s attack missed, and he grew angrier.
Daeho remained calm.
Now it was time.
“Time to be punished.”
He muttered coldly, his eyes icy.
At the same time, Daeho lunged at the alley wall.
Thud!
He kicked off the wall, twisted in midair, and struck Geneger’s face.
“Ha!”
Smack!
Geneger wasn’t weak either.
He quickly raised his guard to block Daeho’s kick.
But he couldn’t absorb all the force, and a groan escaped him.
“Ugh… damn.”
“Don’t drop your guard.”
“What?”
“Check this!”
As a warning, Daeho’s punch flew straight at Geneger’s raised guard.
Thud!
The impact sounded like hitting a wooden wall.
It was that strong.
Geneger’s guard faltered from the shock.
“Ugh!”
“Didn’t I say don’t drop your guard?”
Daeho pulled back his fist, warning him.
Geneger tried to raise his guard quickly.
“Huff, damn it!”
“……”
But Daeho’s punch didn’t hit the guard this time.
Something felt different, and Geneger looked up cautiously.
Their eyes met.
Flash!
Daeho’s sharp gaze was like a predator’s.
At that instant, Geneger felt a dizzying pain in his head.
Thud!
“Argh!”
He stumbled and fell to his knees, unable to control himself.
Above him, Daeho’s fist hovered like a hammer.
“Next one.”
“Eek, eek!”
Geneger tried to get up but his balance was gone from the shock.
No matter how hard he tried, his body wouldn’t obey.
Finally, fear filled Geneger’s eyes.
“Oh no… nooo…”
“No way. This is just the start.”
Daeho’s voice was icy.
Then, the unrestrained violence began.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
“Ugh… ack… aah!”
“Not done yet!”
Smash!
Daeho attacked Geneger mercilessly.
Hands, feet, elbows, knees—every part of the body was used.
Everyone watching was equally worried.
“Shouldn’t someone stop him?”
“Could you even stop him?”
“……”
No one answered.
Daeho was terrifying.
After a while, Geneger knelt, his face battered.
Daeho stepped forward, lowering his hands.
Tap.
“Nothing to say?”
“I-I’m sorry.”
“Sorry? That’s all you can say?”
Geneger flinched at Daeho’s sharp words.
He glanced at his friends for help, but hope quickly turned to despair.
…They were gone.
The people he called friends had already run away.
“Aah… ahhh.”
Even the last shred of hope vanished from Geneger’s face.
Daeho spoke.
“Where are you looking?”
“Huff… I’m sorry. I was drunk and said terrible things.”
“Enough. Apologies without meaning are useless.”
“No, really. I mean it.”
Geneger rubbed his hands together, begging sincerely.
But Daeho’s eyes were ice-cold.
“Hands down.”
“Then forgiveness…?”
“Take that back to your own country. Don’t act up in Korea again.”
Thud!
Daeho stomped firmly on Geneger’s chest.
“Ugh!”
Boom!
Geneger couldn’t withstand the impact and passed out.
Daeho’s gaze remained cold as he looked down.
“You couldn’t even land one hit.”
Swish!
Leaving that cold remark, Daeho turned away.
He had fully used the fighting techniques he learned from an uncle as a child—but barely 10% of what he knew.
Just the basics were enough to subdue him.
‘Learning does have its uses.’
Daeho looked at his fist and swallowed a bitter thought.
That moment was brief.
It was time to calm the startled Malcolm and his group.
“Everyone waited long enough.”
Swipe.
Daeho turned around to speak.
But…
Whoosh.
The alley was empty.
When Geneger’s friends ran, Malcolm’s group had left too.
“Unreliable people.”
Later, Daeho sat at a small noodle soup restaurant near the officetel.
The warm broth washed away his irritation with every spoonful.
“Ah… this is the taste.”
The only thing left was the memory of his powerful moves on stage.
“Stress is finally gone.”
Whether he released it through dance or fists, only Daeho knew.
The next evening, Daeho arrived at the ER for his shift.
“Maybe it’s the time difference, but I feel more awake in the evening.”
His face looked surprisingly bright as he left the doctors’ office.
The spot he had used yesterday at the nurses’ station was still empty.
The desk was clean, with newspapers and medical journals neatly arranged.
Daeho was slightly surprised.
“Did this really become my spot?”
He sat down, tilting his head but staying calm.
It felt like going to the office—only difference was the white coat.
Then,
Slide.
A cup of black Americano appeared on the desk.
“Huh?”
Daeho looked at the person who gave it to him.
Nurse Hwang Semi smiled brightly.
A typical mid-20s MZ generation personality—unpredictable, energetic, like a rugby ball bouncing anywhere.
“Richard, here’s a coffee for you.”
“Thanks. Smells… hmm. Branded, huh?”
“Hehe, I knew you’d expect it.”
Her round face kept smiling.
Daeho paused, holding the cup.
Slide.
“Do you have something to say?”
“Nothing important. Will any critical or difficult patients come tonight?”
“Better if they don’t.”
“That’s true. Hehe, then enjoy your coffee.”
She walked away awkwardly, leaving Daeho curious.
“Strange question… hmm. The beans are good, though.”
The caffeine lifted his energy pleasantly.
Then, Nurse Lee Suyeon approached and placed some candies on the desk.
Slide.
“Doctor, eat these when you get tired later.”
“You didn’t have to.”
Daeho smiled brightly and picked them up like a kid.
Lee Suyeon asked softly, as if testing him.
“Will there be many patients today too?”
“Huh?”
“No, just helping more today. That’s all.”
Slide.
She left quietly.
Another person approached—an energetic young doctor of his age.
“Hey, Richard.”
“Ah, Dr. Park Jinkyu.”
Daeho smiled lightly.
It was the same-year resident he had greeted in the office earlier.
Neat, tidy, and pleasant.
Park Jinkyu glanced at Daeho’s spot and joked.
“Wow, sitting like the night chief of the ER.”
“You’re the real deal, Park.”
“What do you mean? I’m just a fox in a den with no tigers or wolves.”
Meaning the specialists had already left.
His tone had a hint of self-mockery.
Daeho added,
“And even the chief left.”
“Haha, that makes it sound like I don’t like the chief.”
“Hmm. Doesn’t seem like you do.”
Daeho’s answer carried meaning.
He understood the tension among the residents.
Park Jinkyu didn’t deny it.
“Kwangoo’s a bit annoying, though.”
“Only because he works days and gets all the specialists’ attention?”
“Hey, I didn’t say that.”
He raised both hands in denial.
Daeho didn’t mind his personality.
‘Not bad. Could get along with him.’
He lightly raised his hand at Park Jinkyu.
“Then, let’s work hard today.”
“Yeah. Let’s do this.”
Clap.
They lightly tapped hands, and Park Jinkyu left.
