Chapter 57: The Inferno's Crest
The late July heat in Noryangjin-dong blazed like a forge at full tilt, the air thick with the scent of sizzling gopchang and the fading drone of cicadas as Jang Taesan trudged toward school. His frayed backpack, stuffed with textbooks and his notebook of future plans, bounced against his shoulder, a constant reminder of the empire he was forging—coin by coin, kick by kick, answer by answer. It was his fifty-fifth day back in 2008, and the fire of his second chance roared within him, tempered by the crucible of recent tests: his stand against Min-soo Kang, Sophie Leclerc's relentless scrutiny, and the mystery of his rebirth after saving Emma Kim. Noah Park's warning yesterday—"They were with three older guys this time"—had deepened the tether of trust, fueling the flame's ascendance into an inferno's crest, a towering blaze of defiance and resolve. Sophie's suspicions and Min-soo's escalating retaliation, planned for tonight, were the hammer of truth, but Taesan's will, forged on the anvil of resilience, was ready to meet the fire's peak.
The school courtyard buzzed with its usual chaos—students trading notes, laughing over cans of Lotte Milkis, or hurrying to cram schools. Whispers of the PC bang standoff two days ago had grown louder, casting Taesan as a legend with a target on his back, and his eyes swept the crowd for Min-soo or his cronies, Ji-hoon and Dong-min. Noah's warning about Min-soo's crew—now bolstered by three older guys, including the scarred stranger—meant tonight's confrontation would be their boldest yet. Sophie's probing—"I'll prove it"—remained a constant pressure, testing his ability to keep his time-travel secret hidden. His plan—acing the CSAT, building wealth from the 2008 market crash's aftermath, forging alliances with Han Do-jin and Noah Park—was gaining momentum, but the mystery of his return gnawed at him, a question that fueled both his resolve and his unease. The inferno's crest roared within him, and Taesan was ready to face its heat.
In science class, Taesan tackled a chemistry problem on thermodynamics with a precision that left Mr. Kim blinking in surprise, adjusting his glasses with a rare smile. "Jang, you're making this look effortless," the teacher said, his tone tinged with awe. Whispers spread among his classmates, and Sophie, seated near the front, shot him a glance—her eyes sharp, her pencil pausing as if she were dissecting his every move. Taesan kept his expression neutral, but her scrutiny was a growing pressure, the hammer of truth striking harder. His brilliance was rewriting his reputation, but every step into the spotlight made him a bigger target. The tether of bonds with Noah and Do-jin gave him strength, and the inferno's crest fueled his will—he'd face the test and keep his secrets sharp.
At lunch, the cafeteria pulsed with noise—students shouting over trays of bibimbap, the air thick with the scent of gochujang and sesame oil. Taesan sat alone, his notebook open to a new page: a refined plan to optimize his tutoring, market gigs, and CSAT prep. The 30,000 won from yesterday's tutoring session with Ji-woo, Soo-jin, Min-ho, and Hye-rin was a step toward his savings account, which he'd use to seize opportunities like Samsung's smartphone surge and Kakao's rise. He was jotting down a schedule for a new weekend gig at a local PC bang when Han Do-jin slid into the seat across from him, his tie a mess, a stolen piece of Taesan's kimbap in his hand.
"Yo, Taesan, you're basically a superhero now," Do-jin said, grinning as he chewed. "Noah's freaking out about Min-soo's plan for tonight—three older guys? You're walking into a firestorm, man. You're, like, the king of Noryangjin High."
Taesan closed his notebook, forcing a smirk. "Not a king, man. Just done being a nobody." The sight of Do-jin, alive and oblivious to the car crash that loomed in his future, was a bittersweet ache. Taesan couldn't tell him about the time-travel, the markets, or the vow to save him. Not yet. But Do-jin's grin, and the trust behind it, was a tether that fueled his resolve—he would save him, even if the inferno's crest consumed him.
Do-jin leaned forward, his grin softening into concern. "For real, though, you okay? You're pushing yourself hard—school, that dojang, whatever you're scribbling in that notebook. You look… I don't know, like you're ready to burn the world down."
Taesan's heart skipped a beat, Do-jin's words cutting too close to the truth. He kept his expression steady, the weight of his secret pressing hard. "I'm fine," he said, his voice calm but strained. "Just got a lot to prove." Do-jin's faith was a spark, and the trust they were building was a tether, but the hammer of truth was poised to strike, and the inferno's crest was relentless. The anvil of resolve was shaping him, but the pressure was unyielding.
Do-jin nodded, clapping his shoulder. "You're a beast, man. Just don't burn out, yeah? I got your back, so let's kick the ball around later—if you're not fighting off Min-soo's goons."
Taesan laughed, the sound easing the tension in his chest, though it felt fragile. "Deal. But you're buying the soda when we're rich." The tether of Do-jin's trust—I got your back—felt like a lifeline, one he'd cling to as the inferno roared.
After school, Taesan headed to a tutoring session at a café near the market, where he met Ji-woo, Soo-jin, Min-ho, and Hye-rin, guiding them through algebra and geometry with a patience drawn from his past life's struggles. The cramped space smelled of instant coffee and old books, and Hye-rin's hesitant nod as she solved a problem was a small victory. The 30,000 won from the session felt like gold—a step toward his empire. As he left the café, he scanned the street for Min-soo's cronies, catching a glimpse of the scarred stranger near a streetlamp, his cold eyes locking onto Taesan before he vanished. The inferno's crest surged—Min-soo's retaliation was tonight, and Taesan would be ready.
As he approached Choi's Taekwondo & Hapkido Academy, Master Choi intercepted him, his stern face etched with concern. "Jang, I heard about trouble brewing with Kang," Choi said, his voice low but firm. "You're strong, but don't let this fight define you. You need me, you come to me. Understood?"
Taesan's pulse quickened, Choi's words deepening the tether of trust and grounding him against the inferno. "Understood, Master," he said, his voice steady. "I'll handle it, but I'll come to you if it gets bad." Choi nodded, his eyes sharp but proud, and Taesan felt the inferno's crest bolstered by his mentor's faith.
Inside the dojang, Taesan channeled his energy into training, the thwack of kicks and shouts of effort a release for his tension. Master Choi's voice boomed as Taesan practiced a taekwondo side kick, his form sharper, the movement flowing from his core. "Jang! Good! Now add precision!" Choi barked, his stern face betraying a flicker of pride.
Noah worked nearby, practicing a hapkido joint lock with a focus that mirrored Taesan's own. Taesan caught his eye, offering a nod, and Noah returned it, their bond growing stronger with each session. Taesan's mind flashed to Noah's future—a tech titan who'd reshape industries. He's not there yet, but he's mine to guide. The tether of Noah's trust fueled his resolve—he'd shape Noah's path, just as he was shaping his own, even as the inferno's crest roared.
Choi paired Taesan with Hye-jun for sparring, the wiry senior grinning as they squared off. "Heard you're a legend now, Jang," Hye-jun teased, lunging with a quick jab. "Let's see if you fight like one."
Taesan blocked, his reflexes honed by weeks of drills, and countered with a side kick that caught Hye-jun's ribs, earning a surprised grunt. "Not bad," Hye-jun said, rubbing his side with a grin. The spar continued, each move a testament to Taesan's growing strength, though the bruise on his shoulder ached with every block. The weight of his secret was heavy, but the tether of trust from Noah, Do-jin, and Choi was heavier—he was being forged into something sharper, the inferno's crest burning fierce.
As the session ended, Noah approached, wiping his brow. "Tonight's the night, Taesan," he said, his shy smile tinged with resolve. "Min-soo's crew is coming hard. We're ready, right?"
Taesan grinned, slinging his towel over his shoulder, his resolve burning bright despite the cracks. "We're ready, Noah. They're coming, but we're stronger. Keep pushing with those tutorials—you're unstoppable."
Noah's eyes lit up, a flicker of confidence breaking through. "Thanks, man. I'm with you, no matter what."
Choi's voice cut through. "Jang! Park! Save the hero talk for after class!" They bowed, sharing a quick laugh, and Taesan felt the pieces of his plan solidifying—Do-jin's trust, Noah's potential, Choi's guidance, the coins in his pocket.
Walking toward the market under Noryangjin's neon glow, the stars faint against the city's electric haze, Taesan felt the inferno's crest roaring within him. Sophie's suspicions, Min-soo's imminent retaliation, the mystery of his return—they were challenges he'd face head-on. The coins in his pocket, the strength in his body, the alliances he was forging—they were the foundation of something unstoppable.
He clenched his fists, his lips curling into a determined grin. The hammer of truth might strike, but the inferno's crest burns brighter. I'm ready for what's next.