Sin of Pride I

The bell rang, signaling the end of the class, as the muffled noise of students packing up their belongings echoed across the room. Toji Park, who had been dozing in his chair with his head lazily propped against the desk, slowly stirred. His muscles, coiled like tensile steel from his habitual combat training, flexed as he stretched. Without much concern, he wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth, slipping one hand into his pocket while the other wiped his chin. He stood up casually, his towering figure catching the nervous glances of a few nearby students.

As he began walking out, the atmosphere in the hallway shifted. Students from the school's elite Division started to follow him, though maintaining a safe distance. H-High, a prestigious private school, was known for its rigorous academic and extracurricular programs. Most students stayed after class to study under the supervision of their teachers, aiming to excel academically, while others pursued their passions in music, sports, or the arts.

But for the Division, the air was different. The halls grew eerily silent as Toji made his way through. There was an unspoken rule at H-High: when the head of Division, Toji Park, walked through the corridors, no one dared to cross his path. Even the teachers held their tongues, avoiding eye contact as he passed by. One transfer student, the son of a police officer, had once been foolish enough to bump into Toji in the hallway.

The boy had sneered and cursed, asking where Toji's eyes were and demanding directions to Class 3-2 ,Toji's reply was simple—he embedded the boy's head into the wall next to the classroom door, ensuring he never forgot the way.

The top floor of H-High was unlike anything most schools had. It was an exclusive area accessible only to the top members of Division. What lay behind its doors was closer to a luxurious private club than a school facility—complete with a casino, a restaurant with glass walls overlooking the city, and an open infinity pool that shimmered in the sunset. Students from various clubs worked there part-time as waiters or cooks, earning extra credit or cash under the watchful eye of the Division members. It was less a school council and more a carefully organized syndicate, where legal and illegal activities balanced on a knife's edge.

Running this delicate operation was Jinyoung, Division's No. 3, whose strategic mind kept things in order. He was fiercely loyal to Toji, who had once saved him and his sister from a life of torment under their abusive, gambling-addicted father. To Jinyoung, Toji was a beacon of strength and power, a figure who had liberated him from bullying and despair. Every move Jinyoung made was to prove his worth, to show his gratitude for Toji's mercy.

As Toji reached the top floor, the various Division members scattered to their usual activities. Some hit the casino tables, while others went to the gaming area. A few indulged in meals prepared by the cooking club, while others leaned against the glass, taking in the panoramic view. In the far corner, the "Colosseum"—an in-built boxing ring—hosted regular fights among the Division members, where ranks were challenged and earned. Despite this internal competition, the official rankings were set in stone: No. 1 Joseph, No. 2 Kevin, and No. 3 Jinyoung. Everyone else fought relentlessly for the coveted No. 4 spot which was nearly impossible , Because getting a official number is only possible if Toji was impressed but considering the feats done by the numbered members they had a very long way to go.

Toji walked out to the infinity pool, his broad frame casting a long shadow in the fading sunlight. He stretched again, enjoying the quiet as he began unbuttoning his shirt. "This is the life," he muttered, his voice a low rumble that carried across the poolside. He shrugged off his shirt, revealing his back—a demonic face shaped ,battle-hardened muscle. His chiseled chest and eight-pack glistened like molten gold in the evening sun, every muscle honed from years of combat and discipline.

A girl from the cleaning department approached, her eyes wide as she took his shirt. Despite her best efforts to remain professional, her hands shook slightly, and she blushed furiously as she adjusted her glasses. It wasn't just Toji's masculine physique that caught the attention of her heart but like every girl at H-High its the raw, primal aura he exuded.

He was like a predator among sheep, his confidence and dominance pulling people toward him like gravity. But Toji had no interest in the girls who fawned over him—his tastes ran deeper, more mature. He liked women who could hold their own, who had tasted the bitterness of life like Miss Lily or Yeonwoo Kim. The little ones like her didn't even register on his radar.

With a quiet splash, Toji dove into the pool, gliding through the water with the grace of a shark. As he reached the other end, he slicked his hair back, letting the cool water drip from his frame as he leaned against the edge, enjoying the warmth of the setting sun. Everything seemed perfect.

But the tranquil atmosphere was shattered when a sleek black car pulled up in front of H-High's entrance. The mood shifted instantly—ominous, tense. The peace that had settled over the school was gone. Everyone in Division knew that when an unfamiliar car pulled up to the school at this hour, it rarely meant anything good. 

Something—or someone—was coming.

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?????? POV

I pulled up in front of H-High, my black Mercedes gleaming in the afternoon sun. Perfect parking, as always. I stepped out, adjusting my glasses and catching my reflection in the car window. Adjusting my hair and scarf, I grinned. Damn, I looked good. Yellow-striped long-sleeve polo, black suspenders hanging coolly off my shoulders, and that white and gray silk scarf I definitely didn't steal from anyone... just borrowed indefinitely.

As I started walking toward the entrance, hands in my pockets, I noticed the stares. A few students were gawking at me—obviously fangirling. Who could blame them? I waved casually, flashing my best smile. "Don't worry, ladies, I'm just here to say hi to an old friend." I threw in a wink for good measure.

The elevator was right in front of me. I pressed the button for the top floor. Why? Because that's where the fun happens, and I'm all about the fun. The ride was nice with that generic elevator music playing. Comforting... until the doors opened midway and in walked four guys. Big guys. Delinquent types, towering over me like they were in the wrong school. Seriously, do they really let people this huge into high school?

I smiled up at them, adjusting my glasses again. "Hey there, fellas! You guys headed to the top too?"

The biggest one, who looked like his face hadn't cracked a smile in years, glared down at me. "The top floor is only for Division members or guests invited by the crew head. You invited?"

I laughed, scratching the back of my head. "Invited? Nah, I'm Toji's secret friend. Just thought I'd drop by to say hi."

The four of them exchanged confused looks, as if they couldn't decide if I was joking or insane. "Sorry, no one gets up there without an invitation."

I sighed dramatically, cracking my knuckles. "Oh, that's bad news... because I really didn't wanna have to do this."

Before the guy closest to me could react, I slammed my fist into his face. Thwack! He dropped like a rock. The other three looked at me like they'd just seen a ghost. I love that slow-motion reaction.

"Oh, come on, don't act so surprised," I said, ducking under a punch from the second guy. I came up with an uppercut that sent him flying into the elevator wall. He hit it hard and slid down, out cold.

The third one finally decided to charge me. But come on, seriously? He was moving like a sloth. I sidestepped him, grabbed the back of his head, and slammed it into the elevator buttons. The control panel sparked, and the guy slumped to the floor.

"Yikes! Watch where you're going, big guy," I teased, patting him on the head.

That left just one. Poor guy was trembling, looking like he'd rather be anywhere but here. He threw a punch, but it was so slow I almost yawned. I caught his fist mid-air, twisted his arm behind his back, and gently shoved him into the elevator wall.

"You guys need some serious training," I said, wiping my bloodied knuckles on one of their shirts. I was starting to feel a little disappointed.

The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. I stepped out casually, leaving the four of them knocked out cold inside. Flexing my bloodied knuckles, I took a deep breath. "Should've stretched first," I muttered.

But as I stepped out, I was met by a different kind of welcome. A group of 20 guys stood in front of me, and unlike the previous four, these ones looked like they wanted to fight. Some were grinning, like they couldn't wait to get started, while others were eyeing me warily. I spotted a couple of nunchuks, knives, even a chain. Fun.

The leader, some tough guy with a scar across his cheek, stepped forward, trying to look intimidating. I couldn't help but grin. "Is this really a school? You've got an inbuilt casino, a game center… Division's really stepping things up."

I didn't even wait for him to respond. In a flash, I was behind him. The guy's eyes widened in shock. I tapped him on the shoulder. "Too slow," I said, laughing.

With a swift kick, I sent him flying into his own crew. Two of them went down with him, crashing to the floor. The rest jumped into action, but they were just as slow. One guy swung a knife at me, but I casually grabbed his wrist, twisted it until he dropped the blade, and threw him into another guy. They both went down like bowling pins.

"You guys really need to work on your teamwork," I teased, dodging a pair of nunchuks with ease. I ducked low, sweeping the legs out from under the guy holding them. As he hit the ground, I drove my elbow into his chest. He groaned, but that was all he could manage.

Another guy tried his luck with a bat. I sidestepped him easily, grabbing the bat mid-swing and tossing it aside. "Nah, I don't need that."

That's when the real fun began. They all came at me at once, and I have to say, they weren't bad. The first guy swung a knife at me, and I twisted out of the way, grabbing his wrist and sending him flying into another guy with a nunchuk. The impact was brutal.

But that's when I noticed someone interesting—a guy with wild red hair. He came at me fast, faster than the others, launching a spinning kick aimed right at my head. I ducked, narrowly avoiding it, and couldn't help but smirk. "Oh, you've got some moves."

The red-haired guy didn't let up. He followed up with another kick, aimed lower this time, and I had to block it with my forearm. Thud! The force of it made my arm tingle. "Not bad… not bad at all."

Before I could compliment him more, two other guys rushed me, one swinging a bat, the other with a chain. I dodged the bat, grabbing the chain mid-air and yanking the guy off balance. As he stumbled, I kicked him in the chest, sending him crashing into a wall. The bat guy tried again, but I snatched it out of his hands, twirled it once, and cracked it over his head.

"Man, you guys are making me work for it today."

The red-haired guy came at me again, this time throwing a flurry of kicks. Each one was fast and precise. I dodged, blocked, and ducked, but I had to admit, this guy was good. His kicks had real power behind them. Finally, he aimed one more spinning kick at me, and this time, I caught his leg mid-spin. He grinned, almost like he was happy I could keep up.

"Nice try, but I've got you now." I swung him around, sending him crashing into three other guys who were trying to flank me. The impact was loud, and the red-haired guy groaned as he hit the ground.

"You were fun. Let's do it again sometime," I said, looking down at the red-haired guy. He was definitely strong for his age, skilled enough to make me break a sweat. I couldn't help but grin. If this kid could push me even a little, I couldn't wait to see what level Toji Park was at.

The thought sent a thrill through me. The stronger the opponent, the more fun the fight.

I wiped the sweat off my brow, still buzzing with excitement.

The rest of them? Not so much. One guy tried to stab me, but I caught his wrist, twisted it, and punched him in the face. Another came at me with a chain, but I used it against him, wrapping it around his neck and flipping him over my shoulder.

With a final flurry of punches and kicks, I took out the remaining guys. The red-haired one stayed down, breathing heavily but still conscious. Impressive, really.

I dusted off my hands, feeling a bit more satisfied. "That was more like it. You guys aren't half bad."

I stretched, cracking my neck and surveying the scene. Twenty guys? That's it? I dusted off my suspenders, feeling a little let down.

"Man, they really don't make fights like they used to. Or have I just gotten too strong?"

I adjusted my scarf, careful not to get any blood on it. He'll kill me if I ruin this, I thought with a chuckle. Humming to myself, I casually stepped over the pile of bodies. I still had a friend to visit.