The Villain's Monologue
Chapter 2: The Art of Concealment
The mirror in the master bathroom was larger than most people's living rooms. It was framed in gold, designed to reflect perfection.
Right now, it reflected a disaster.
Han Ji-hoon gripped the cold porcelain of the sink. It was 6:00 AM. He hadn't slept. Every time he closed his eyes, he heard the crunch of the thug's wrist and saw the terror in the old man's eyes.
Monster.
He looked down at his hands. His right hand, the one that had held the steel pipe, was swollen. The knuckles were turning a sickly shade of violet.
"Stupid," he hissed at his reflection. "You stupid, uncontrollable idiot."
His phone buzzed on the marble counter. It was Hyung-seok, his manager.
Message: [Pick up in 30 mins. Makeup shop first. Then school. Don't forget your script.]
Ji-hoon took a deep breath. He opened the cabinet. He didn't reach for a first aid kit; he reached for his professional makeup bag. He was an actor. Hiding things was his job.
He applied a layer of color-correcting green concealer over the purple bruises on his knuckles, followed by a layer of foundation that perfectly matched his skin tone. He set it with powder. It wasn't perfect—the swelling was still visible if you looked closely—but it would pass for a bug bite or a minor bump if he kept his hand moving.
He practiced his smile in the mirror. The Angel Smile. Eyes crinkled, teeth showing, head tilted slightly to the left.
"Good morning," he practiced. The voice was steady. The monster was gone. For now.
"Ji-hoon-ah! What happened to your hand?"
Hyung-seok's voice was sharp as soon as Ji-hoon climbed into the van. The manager's eyes were like hawks. Nothing escaped him.
Ji-hoon didn't freeze. He laughed, a sheepish, embarrassed sound. He rubbed the back of his neck with his uninjured hand.
"Ah, Hyung, don't scold me," Ji-hoon said, giving a clumsy grin. "I was practicing some choreography in the shower last night and slipped. I banged it against the towel rack. I'm so clumsy, right?"
Hyung-seok sighed, the tension leaving his shoulders. "You and your dancing. You need to be careful. Your body is your asset. Does it hurt?"
"It's fine. Just a bruise."
"I'll get ice for it after the press conference. Try to keep it in your pocket during the photos."
Ji-hoon nodded, looking out the window. His heart was hammering against his ribs. It was the first lie of the day. It wouldn't be the last.
Seoul Arts High School - 10:30 AM
School was a different kind of battlefield.
As Ji-hoon walked down the hallway, the sea of students parted. Whispers followed him like a wake behind a boat.
"He looks even better in real life." "Did you see his drama last night? He cried so beautifully." "He's practically glowing."
Ji-hoon bowed politely to the teachers and waved to the students. He maintained the facade until he reached his classroom and sat in his seat by the window.
He pulled out his textbook, but his eyes drifted to the phone of the student sitting in front of him. The boy was watching the news.
BREAKING NEWS: Brutal Assault in Gangnam Alleyway.
Ji-hoon's blood ran cold.
The news anchor's voice was grim. "Police are investigating a bizarre incident that occurred last night. Three men, known members of a local extortion ring, were found severely beaten in an alleyway. Two suffered multiple fractures, and one is in critical condition with a shattered knee."
The student turned around, realizing Ji-hoon was looking. "Crazy, right, Ji-hoon? They say the guy who did it didn't leave a single fingerprint. The victims are saying it was a 'demon' with black eyes."
Ji-hoon forced a shocked expression. "That's... terrifying. I hope they catch him."
"Me too," the student agreed. "Though, honestly? Those guys were bullying a recycling grandpa. Maybe the 'demon' is a hero."
Ji-hoon looked down at his concealer-covered hand. Hero? A hero doesn't almost bash a man's skull in with a pipe. A hero doesn't enjoy the sound of bones breaking.
Gangnam Police Station - Violent Crimes Division
Detective Kang Do-jin lit a cigarette, ignoring the 'No Smoking' sign on the wall. He stared at the grainy footage on his monitor.
It was from a CCTV camera located a block away from the alleyway. It didn't show the fight, but it showed the entrance.
At 11:14 PM, three thugs entered. At 11:16 PM, a figure in a black bucket hat and oversized clothes entered.
The figure moved strangely. There was no hesitation. No fear.
At 11:22 PM, the figure in black ran out.
Detective Kang paused the video. He zoomed in on the running figure. The face was completely obscured by a mask and the hat. But there was something about the way the suspect ran.
"Athletic," Kang muttered to himself. "Fast. Good posture."
He rewound the tape to the moment the figure ran out. He noticed something else.
The shoes.
"Hey, Min-soo," Kang called out to his younger partner. "Come look at this."
Officer Min-soo rolled his chair over. "What is it, Sunbae-nim?"
"The suspect's shoes. Look at the logo. That's the limited edition 'Sky-Walkers' release. They only made five hundred pairs in Korea."
Min-soo whistled. "Those are expensive. Like, two million won expensive. Resale value is even higher."
Kang leaned back, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "So, we have a vigilante who beats up gangsters with military precision, but wears shoes that cost more than my monthly salary."
Kang's eyes narrowed. "This isn't a street thug. This is a rich kid. A rich kid with anger issues and training."
He tapped the screen.
"Pull the list of everyone who bought those shoes in Seoul," Kang ordered. "And cross-reference it with residents in Hannam-dong and Gangnam."
Han Ji-hoon thought he had wiped the blood off his sneakers. But he had forgotten that in the age of 4K cameras, the brand on your feet could be just as damning as a fingerprint.
The Press Conference - 2:00 PM
The flashbulbs were blinding. Hundreds of cameras clicked in unison, sounding like a swarm of mechanical cicadas.
Ji-hoon sat on the dais next to his co-stars. He wore a white suit that emphasized his innocent image. His injured hand was carefully tucked into his pocket.
"Ji-hoon-ssi!" a reporter shouted. "In your new movie 'Blue Summer', you play a character who fights against school bullying. Do you have any personal thoughts on justice?"
The microphone was thrust in front of him.
Ji-hoon leaned forward. The Shadow stirred in his gut, a cold, dark snake uncoiling. It found the question amusing.
Justice? the Shadow thought. Justice is breaking the hand that hits the weak.
Ji-hoon suppressed the thought, pushing it down into the dark box in his mind. He smiled the Angel Smile.
"I think..." Ji-hoon started, his voice soft and humble. "I think true justice is about empathy. It's about protecting each other with kindness, not violence. Violence only breeds more violence."
The reporters nodded, typing furiously. 'Han Ji-hoon: The Apostle of Peace.'
Under the table, inside his pocket, Ji-hoon's fist clenched so hard the concealer on his knuckles cracked.