The red and blue police lights flickered against Ren's glasses. A cold drizzle was still falling, making the morning air feel heavy with the scent of wet asphalt and blood.
"Name? And where are you heading so early?" the first officer asked, his voice sharp, eyes scanning Ren from head to toe.
Ren lowered his gaze, his shoulders slightly hunched—the perfect picture of a timid, overworked student. "I-I'm Ren. I'm going to college, sir."
The officer stepped closer. "Did you see anyone strange here last night? Someone acting erratic... or maybe some one who looked like they didn't belong?"
Ren shook his head slowly, his voice barely a whisper. "No, sir. I didn't see anyone. It was raining quite hard... I was just trying to get home."
The second officer sighed, sipping lukewarm coffee from his cup. "Come on. Why are you bothering the kid? Look at him, he's terrified. Let him go. We need to get to the crime scene; the seniors are breathing down our necks to collect evidence."
The second officer then looked at Ren with a small, pitying smile. "Go on, kid. Get to class. And be careful out there."
Ren nodded politely, walking away with quick, hurried steps. But as soon as he turned into a dark alley, far from their sight, he stopped. He straightened his back, and the fear in his eyes vanished, replaced by a chilling void.
"Truly... these people are beyond careless," he muttered to himself, a faint, mocking smile playing on his lips.
[Scene Change]
While the police were desperately scouring the crime scene for clues, the city was in a silent state of panic. This was the third brutal murder in a month. News of corruption, bullying, and rape filled the front pages like a never-ending cycle of filth.
Inside the halls of the university, the atmosphere was fake and chaotic.
Ren entered his classroom late. The professor looked up from his notes. Ren immediately bowed slightly in apology. Knowing Ren's academic record, the professor simply gestured for him to take a seat, advising him to leave ten minutes earlier next time.
Ren moved past his classmates, ignoring their whispers and existence entirely. He chose a seat in the farthest corner, near the window—a spot where he could be alone even in a crowd.
Outside, he watched a luxury car pull up. A wealthy man stepped out with his son, followed by an expensive hybrid breed dog that probably cost more than a common man's yearly rent. They were here for an admission.
Ren watched as the college president—a man who usually acted like a tyrant toward poor students—bowed and fawned before the rich man like a loyal dog.
'Is money truly everything?' Ren thought, his eyes narrowing. 'In this world, humanity is a currency, and money is the god. 95% of crimes are born from greed... where humans shed their skin to reveal the monsters underneath.
He gripped his pen tighter. 'And yet... if someone kills a monster, how can he be called a monster himself? For the sake of humanity, shouldn't he be called a God?'
"Ren? Ren!"
The professor's voice snapped him back to reality. Ren blinked and looked up. "Yes, sir?"
"Where is your mind today?" the professor asked.
"I was just... deeply lost in the thoughts of your lecture, sir," Ren replied smoothly.
The professor smiled, pleased. "Good. Then tell me, Ren: If a criminal has committed heinous crimes in the past—like murder or rape—should he be given a second chance to reform?"
Ren paused. He knew the 'right' answer.
"I believe," Ren started, his voice calm and hollow, "that he should be given a few years in prison. A chance to reflect, to repent, and to eventually rejoin society as a changed man."
"Excellent, Ren! That is what we call humanity. Take your seat."
Ren sat down, his heart cold. 'What a joke. A killer gets a few years in a cell and then earns the right to live a happy life? Is that truly... absolute justice?'
The bell rang, signaling the end of the lecture. Students scrambled to leave, but Ren remained in his seat.
"Ren? Is something else on your mind?" the professor asked.
Ren looked up. "Sir, I have one question regarding social justice."
"Go ahead, ask freely," the professor said enthusiastically.
"If the law punished a murderer with the exact same fate—death—wouldn't that be the only true justice?"
The professor's smile faded. "Oh, Ren, no. How can that be? If the law becomes a killer, then what is the difference between a murderer and the legal system? The law would become the very monster it tries to stop."
Before the professor could even finish his sentence, Ren stood up and packed his bag. He didn't argue. He didn't explain. He simply walked toward the door.
At the threshold, Ren paused and looked back...
"The law... was only ever made for the weak."
[Chapter 2 End]