Episode:9 “The Man Even the Beast Fears”
1062 Words
Li Do Hwan opened his eyes.
Pain.
It hit him instantly—sharp, throbbing, spreading from the back of his head like fire under his skin.
For a second, the world didn't make sense.
Everything was blurry.
Heavy.
Distant.
Then—
A sudden kick slammed into his leg.
"Get up!"
The guard's voice cut through the haze like a blade.
"What are you doing lying here?!"
Li Do Hwan winced, his breath catching in his throat. He forced himself to sit up, his vision spinning violently as he reached behind his head.
Warm.
Swollen.
But no blood.
"… Good," he muttered under his breath. "At least it didn't split open."
Still—
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
His brows furrowed as fragments of memory flashed through his mind.
The corridor.
The darkness.
Kim Do.
That abandoned building.
And then—
A blow.
Everything had gone black.
His eyes narrowed.
"… Then why am I here?"
This wasn't where he had collapsed.
Not even close.
A cold realization crept up his spine.
"… That wasn't a dream."
He slowly pushed himself to his feet, ignoring the protest of his body.
A different kind of fire now burned in his eyes.
Determination.
"Today…" he whispered.
"I'll find the truth."
Without wasting another second, he brushed the dust off his clothes and headed straight back toward the cell blocks.
He needed answers.
And there was only one person who could give them.
Kim Do.
"Where is he?" Li Do Hwan asked one of the inmates casually.
"Laundry room," the man replied without much interest.
"Thanks."
Li Do Hwan didn't hesitate.
His pace quickened.
Each step heavier than the last—
Not from pain.
But from anticipation.
The laundry room was humid, filled with the smell of soap and damp fabric.
Machines hummed.
Water dripped.
Voices echoed faintly.
And there—
Kim Do.
"… Finally," Li Do Hwan murmured.
Then, louder—
"Kim Do!"
Kim Do turned.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
"Yeah? What is it? Something wrong?"
But Li Do Hwan noticed it immediately.
The tension behind his eyes.
The subtle alertness.
He stepped closer.
Then glanced around.
Too many people.
Too many ears.
Without a word, he grabbed Kim Do's arm and pulled him toward a quieter corner.
"Hey—what are you—"
"Last night," Li Do Hwan cut him off, his voice low but sharp.
"I followed you."
Silence.
Kim Do froze.
Li Do Hwan stepped closer.
"Where did you go?"
"… And who did you meet?"
His gaze hardened.
"You need to tell me."
Kim Do didn't answer.
Instead—
He looked around.
Left.
Right.
Careful.
Too careful.
Then finally—
"…I can't."
Li Do Hwan frowned.
"Can't? What do you mean you can't?"
"What's the reason?"
And suddenly—
Kim Do snapped.
"I SAID I CAN'T!"
His voice exploded through the room, drawing attention instantly.
"Are you insane?!" he shouted, grabbing Li Do Hwan by the collar and shaking him violently.
"Do you even know what you're doing?!"
The room fell silent.
All eyes on them.
But Li Do Hwan…
Didn't react.
He just stared at him.
Quiet.
Observing.
Thinking.
Then slowly—
He pushed Kim Do's hand away.
No anger.
No words.
Just silence.
And then—
He turned and walked away.
They had spent days together.
Talked.
Shared meals.
Understood each other without needing words.
Kim Do was never like this.
Which meant—
There was a reason.
A serious one.
Li Do Hwan's steps slowed as his mind raced.
"He was calm at first…"
"…then suddenly changed."
"…and he kept looking around."
He stopped.
His eyes sharpened.
"… Someone's watching him."
A cold weight settled in his chest.
"I made a mistake."
"I dragged him into this."
He clenched his fists.
"…I won't do that again."
His gaze turned cold.
"I'll handle this myself."
No one else.
No risks.
No attachments.
And then—
A dangerous thought formed.
"If I want the truth…"
"… I need to get close to him."
The one person no one dared approach.
The one even the Beast avoided.
"…I'll earn his trust."
"No matter what it takes."
The yard was crowded.
Groups of inmates scattered everywhere—talking, laughing, pretending.
But underneath it all—
Fear lingered.
And at the center of it—
He sat.
Relaxed.
Silent.
Untouchable.
As if the world moved around him—not the other way around.
Li Do Hwan didn't hesitate.
Didn't slow down.
He walked straight toward him.
"Hello… sir."
The man's expression darkened immediately.
Annoyed.
Displeased.
He didn't respond.
Instead, he leaned back, stretching out lazily, one arm resting over his eyes.
Ignoring him completely.
As if he didn't exist.
One of his men stepped forward.
"What do you want?"
Li Do Hwan stood tall.
Unshaken.
"Take me in."
Silence.
Heavy.
Pressing.
Still—
No response.
The others laughed.
"Get lost, kid."
"You've got a death wish or something?"
But Li Do Hwan didn't move.
"Until he answers…"
"… I'm not leaving."
His voice was calm.
But his resolve—
Unbreakable.
A second passed.
Then—
The beating started.
A fist slammed into his stomach.
Another across his face.
He fell—
But they didn't stop.
Kicks.
Blows.
Relentless.
Brutal.
Merciless.
No one intervened.
No one cared.
This place didn't allow weakness.
Minutes later—
They stopped.
And walked away.
Like nothing happened.
Li Do Hwan lay there.
Breathing shallow.
Blood on his lips.
Pain is everywhere.
And silence.
Everyone had seen.
No one helped.
Except—
One.
"Hey! Are you okay?!"
Jang Si-woo rushed to his side, helping him up.
Carefully.
Gently.
He brought him back to his cell.
"What happened? Why did they do that to you?"
Li Do Hwan said nothing.
Just closed his eyes.
Later—
The door creaked open.
Kim Do entered.
He stopped when he saw Li Do Hwan.
His expression hardened.
"Do you have a death wish?" he muttered.
"Why did you go to him?!"
His voice dropped.
Low.
Serious.
"…He'll destroy you."
He stepped closer.
Whispered—
"You don't understand…"
"…how close his people are watching us."
A pause.
"… Even the Beast fears him."
And then—
He left.
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Unanswered questions circled Li Do Hwan's mind.
Over.
And over.
"…Who is he?"
When even monsters feel fear…
It means something far worse is hiding in the dark.
- Writer
