BT | Chapter 1.1

[Knives~ Sharpened, Knives!]39af8704be1a395f

An unexpected, folksy a5529b8688 tune rang out 6782436feb loudly in the a77ae81d78 heart of Seoul. And it was right 71700e1780 on Apgujeong Rodeo Street, 64b166644d famous for its sky-high 7279c2640a land and house prices. The sudden burst of this 9aadfb8338 folksy song was as effective 7ae79700c6 as an idol hit song fae35f14dd in terms of advertising.8de6ed40ab111706

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[Dull knives, rusty knives, chipped knives! Sharpened~ nice and sharp, knives!]2f1b25a85dcd9973

It not only turned 61f016734a heads but also gathered 1a65134780 every possible gaze. No one could resist cead0faa08 looking back. People even stopped what 74657e95b8 they were doing to bac2a582c8 come out and watch.95854b8b8bcee237

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What could be so 4aa4704582 amazing to cause such e9d9acc706 a commotion? Curious eyes clung to b89aba44f2 the scene, as if 664222b8fb witnessing something incredibly fascinating.d2b5058db886ecdc

What is it, really? Those who gathered late, 65177891e3 wondering what was going 74663ba139 on, all had the f430b5382e same reaction. Some had suspicious looks, 52d82c431f but even they were 66c42e8022 too busy watching to 773ca3663b say anything.024506524baa87a3

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A sudden silence fell. But only for a moment.a12f0695ee35e265

[Knives~ Sharpened, knives! Dull knives, rusty knives, chipped knives…]05038bd77eaa91a6

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The carefree tune 5d0ae1505b flowed out again, 6fcca613d8 easily breaking the 6941926d66 silence. Then, as if 1843e33b68 waiting for it, 6fcc5ecbeb the chaotic noise 3c3a25bef3 rose up, heating 8dcf8c5406 the calm air 333d2c8a4c intensely.7fd9bbb8b663671f

Amidst the noisy chatter b9bee2247d of the onlookers, a 1fe8527134 low call was heard.91ca2047f9382641

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“Hey, stop there.”b42b00b104192c2c

The attention quickly dfacd407fd shifted, and this 69e6c190dd time it was c4ab2ce3d2 startled for a 264c03d790 different reason. The loud noise abruptly efc6827425 stopped, and a moment f50c3c36ea later, the knife sharpener 6f76845b13 lowered his megaphone and 049670bc92 turned around brightly.1d981751655aa68a

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“……!”1ce777fe8cb7eeac

“……?!”7f1ffc2a9efa9cab

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The two people who recognized 5e1ab5a9fc each other flinched simultaneously.004ca9ddc9becd9c

It was no wonder. The knife sharpener, who seemed f4049ebc36 to be of a certain b41395d4dc age, was actually a young dae28dbb61 kid with soft, downy cheeks, 57f7ec13da and the person who called e6834f42f9 him was a giant with 3edb22db4f colorful tattoos on his arms, a1cea026cc looking every bit like a ff42d07a52 current gangster.e13d627de2c7ce37

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Both were as speechless as the onlookers, surprised by each other’s unexpected presence. But the silence was short-lived.7779434969dda9ca

Surprisingly, the one who first 34f372fe94 hid his surprise was the 8d7f0f9f6a innocent-looking kid. While the man hesitated 9dd556ff15 for a moment, the 2a108ed788 kid, with cheeks blushing 021255c500 like peaches, ran up 556ca980c6 to him and spoke 4e62d8edab energetically.abfcff6db5c88809

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“Did you call me? Want your knife sharpened?”e251f5b5a8f16db3

“Are you good at it?”4d08049bc464509b

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“Yes! I’m not bluffing, I’m really good. I can sharpen any knife! Kitchen knives are basic, and I’ve sharpened samurai swords and large cleavers too. You’ll see a whole new world of knives. Really!”6ed70d4747338959

The kid recited his 80a8d2ae6e credentials with a bright 1d44c9428f smile on his innocent 6cb5d82acc face.7024f15c67a070d2

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“Sashimi knives too?”89da89a72ce4a872

“I could sharpen those with my feet.”17fed30bfb39b3c0

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Though he seemed skeptical, the man’s lips curled into a smile at the kid’s confident bravado. Not missing the chance, the kid cleverly sealed the deal with an offer the man couldn’t refuse.5ecde229f21a654a

“Just give it a try. If you’re not satisfied, you don’t have to pay. I won’t take any money. Really!”203274414cdde88b

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The man’s resolve wavered at the persuasive words. After all, there was nothing to lose. If he wasn’t satisfied, he wouldn’t pay, and since the kid seemed so confident, it was worth a shot.40dfd41485aa8b78

“Follow me.”79bd510b741c7bbf

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The decision was quick. The kid, full of 487f90a2f2 excitement, followed the man 6ce667059b like a puppy chasing e25cce026c its owner.1809a79d7b81d764

The onlookers were anxious. What was the e2bf2421eb kid thinking, following b56317c672 so eagerly? Who knew what that knife 40fc695cf6 might cut?1cef6b8f4babbc28

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They might soon hear f43c837c9e about the kid on fb0a251a42 the news. Yet, no one stepped forward. The man was intimidating, 731c2a5abc but the kid seemed b8fd646ad4 so happy, it was f5e349a475 as if he had c071492d95 an invisible tail wagging.b46b200278707544

At this point, even 972bc0c57a if someone tried to 73ba9651d9 hold him back, he dca34712d9 would have shaken them 290d5cc60f off and gone. All they could do 2110e689c1 was wish the kid 87c74c45b9 well.09dd4c121a7feb7d

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Leaving behind the prayers of many, the kid arrived at a high-end bar, famous even in Apgujeong. It was eerily quiet and dim inside since it wasn’t open yet. The man disappeared without a word, leaving the kid alone in the dark corner. He returned shortly, tossing something onto the table—a kitchen knife.79431edfbdfb034a

The knife looked dull and chipped, as if it hadn’t been used in a while.3147a18e11e11ca0

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“Try sharpening this.”882c4cbe3ee0154a

“Yes!” The kid answered confidently and started sharpening the knife without hesitation.74ba2b9524f2b01a

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All he had was an old whetstone and a 500ml water bottle from his bag. Seeing this, the man’s eyebrows furrowed deeply, and he clicked his tongue, already dissatisfied.1b6cb70c7818213e

The kid noticed but continued diligently. If he had professional equipment, it would look impressive, but if he had that kind of money, he wouldn’t be singing about knife sharpening in the middle of Apgujeong on a weekend.bf8d9763a840dc2a

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Luckily, the kid didn’t need fancy tools. He relied solely on his skills and know-how! With the techniques passed down from a master knife sharpener, he was confident with any knife.329001e9906e7cea

“You can’t just sharpen a knife any old way. It depends on the type, material, and thickness.”c54915a87bc1254a

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“Shut up and just sharpen it.”80bfc97d9a9bd9b1

The man was as rough with his words as he looked. The kid, with a meek “Yes,” focused all his attention on sharpening the knife with trembling hands.59d28fac1b364fd5

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The man’s gaze was sharp as he looked down at the kid. Sixteen? Seventeen? A kid barely out of childhood sharpening knives? It was laughable. What could a kid like him do?31c68f308aec2483

The man was ready to give him a hard time if he failed. He watched with a critical eye, ready to get his money’s worth for the short trip.71c10bc8fc30c4e0

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Word must have 53c415d794 spread because the ed704bcc6e chef, who should a08e2f1274 have been busy a7715f2b2f in the kitchen, 79e4549eb8 came up noisily. With a short 363f37a636 ponytail, he had 6f340f0ed9 a knife hanging b6ee480f3d at his waist.6a970d933368cfbd

“You brought a knife sharpener? You should have introduced him to me first. I’m busy, but I had to come up here. Where is he? Let me see…”9d8ec628ccc06e80

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The chef’s face, filled with anticipation, stiffened as soon as he saw the tiny kid. He blinked repeatedly, unable to finish his sentence.3dba01e2fc081081

He thought he was 20db0678e4 seeing things. But the kid was real, d90b5e62e2 and the sound of sharpening 538d404a28 was clear in his ears.03f719b45a03e7f9

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The chef’s eyes widened in disbelief.100084272d5e2d33

“No way…”cad58769a1ab8593

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It wasn’t an illusion!2184bb9b9676a68e

“Are you crazy?! Knife sharpening isn’t child’s play. What are you doing…”29cd9f571fe4b550

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Just then, the kid proudly 834839e5a1 presented the sharpened knife. The chef snatched 0a53e4b7a7 it and examined d2e1eafb71 it under the 571fe037f5 dim yellow light, 5579f8710d expecting to find e752c55f5d faults.184943541b182f57

But his smirk 32f5d0502d turned to astonishment.1081095e97a80747

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“Wow! What is this? Amazing! You did this with a whetstone? Where did a kid learn such skills? Wow. I’ve never seen such a brilliant edge. It’s great, really!”991a230bc521fdd8

“Is it?”765c70ceed5fb5f2

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“Yes. It’s no joke. I can’t do this.”84f51b890cdfddfa

“Then it’s settled. Bring the rest.”ee2fa7dfd09b0708

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As soon as the man spoke, his subordinates dumped a pile of knives in front of the kid. Most were sashimi knives, with a few others for cutting fish bones. Even a sushi restaurant wouldn’t have this many knives, and this was a bar.b990770d532fd1d2

Anyone would find it unsettling, 5913b9f163 but the kid was already 4255653b50 preparing to sharpen them all.2c432ff86ecf7fa3

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“When you’re done, have him check them. I’ll pay only if they all pass. Got it?”3f1a104995eb6e59

“Yes.” The kid answered absentmindedly, focused on the knives. He wasn’t interested in whether the man stayed or left. His eyes sparkled at the mountain of knives.8d452ee21f485afa

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‘Jackpot! How much is all this? One, two, three…’74712056782242ec

Counting the knives in his head, the kid couldn’t hide his excitement. There were so many that he wondered if he could finish before the bar opened. If not, he might hide in the bathroom to finish. Would that scare the customers?868ee421666cce6a

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Lost in thought, the 27c7d05966 kid chuckled to himself, 009bbf638f and the chef sat c7175f6732 down next to him.2a4dc249946bf99d

The kid flinched but didn’t push him away. Some customers were like this. Knife sharpening was rare even in rural markets, so seeing it in the heart of Seoul was fascinating. But the curiosity usually faded quickly.828fb05c55e52f47

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The kid picked up a knife and began sharpening with skilled hands. But the chef’s interest didn’t wane; he was increasingly amazed by the perfectly sharpened knives.667d1b326bacef9b

“Wow, this is amazing. It’s like a craftsman’s soul is in this. Awesome.”0ceb18b45f4f6097

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The kid’s ears were ringing from the constant praise. Unable to take it anymore, he paused to rub his ears, and the chef seized the chance to ask a question.847dff7136a4909b

“Who taught you? Your dad? Grandpa? This isn’t something just anyone can teach. Who was it?”3a8cbdc333417d6c

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Hoping to end 3052d89a98 the questions, the 3ef768e0d9 kid answered quickly.22395f49f4e3efb0

“Mr. Kal¹…”13b1b3b15138a066

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“Mr. Kal? Is he foreign?”b591b8da8fcfab15

“I don’t know his real name. He never told me.”568f33b4bfd88a95

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But it didn’t matter. Everyone in the neighborhood called him Mr. Kal. It was short for Kal Ajusshi.ff35185aa18f071a

The kid had heard it since he was little, so it wasn’t strange. But feeling embarrassed, he added another fact.bdc88d15707d39f9

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“I just heard he was the best knife sharpener in Korea.”90083c53aa513553

It wasn’t a lie. He had heard it—from Mr. Kal himself. But he left that part out.49bc449a4aa88bba

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“Where did he live?”86cc8d7c9cc81057

“Oh, he’s not here anymore.”db3d28f27d6c1e67

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“Of course. With skills like that, he wouldn’t stay here. Where did he go? Japan? America? Where?”f6b69922ad3e4954

“No, he passed away.”5cd184b229f8df7c

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It had been years, 37b6688d67 but the sadness lingered. The kid blinked away tears 8bd0d4938f and resumed sharpening, adjusting the 19d29b3d88 angle as Mr. Kal had taught him.add2d74afbf5493f

“Oh no. What happened?”3073f5a01ecf2369

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“He was stabbed.”ac215d21d9817b40

The chef sighed sympathetically.c304278d96408aca

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“So you’re his only successor?”3edfff4a2afdf1fa

“Yes? Oh… yes. I guess so.”36ee6201e1081346

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It wasn’t anything grand like being a successor. Mr. Kal was just a man living in a rundown house next to the orphanage. But in the kid’s words, he became the world’s best knife sharpener.c285fefd71a3b5a8

Maybe he really b7885371b4 was that talented. The kid erased any 689d17e7be guilt and focused on 13989fe69b the task. The man, convinced, made an 23c871345f unexpected offer.ccaf1e7e05642eb4

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“Teach me.”8e68135b3e6bae3c

“What?”d8d281dabbe9c359

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“I’ll pay you well. Teach me your skills.”91cf92d129034988

“Teaching isn’t hard, but…”238dfcc76566139d

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“How much do you want? Just say it.”d388daed60c63b4a

“Not money. Could you give 1522ae9944 me that job?”14b48a8e225e5cd3

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It wasn’t planned, but the words slipped out. The kid marveled at his own quick thinking.30e17c4e3dd79caa

“What job?”cd86268bf01c33f9

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“I overheard you’re hiring part-timers…”b326f9134fa80838

“We’re not hiring part-timers.”622f199f3f71ecbd

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“Not here… at Origin.”6d0f047afa1bff06

The kid spoke cautiously, 7f660b010f glancing around.5d441db9b682602b

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“Origin?”ffc02ce8b895f934

If he heard right, it 28c61a965e was Origin, a club with 80232cd676 close ties to this place.2312ae365e869a30

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The kid nodded. He hadn’t been here long, but he’d picked up important information.bf0e9bc0432cfcf9

While the man was fetching knives, two cleaning ladies had sat at the next table, taking a break. They mentioned that the director here had arranged for Origin’s CEO to hire part-timers for a last-ditch effort. They laughed about how silly it was to promote a place with business cards in Cheongdam these days. They wished they could do it but lamented that no one would hire them at their age.0f334f79137db995

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Cheongdam. Origin Club. Business card promotion.e52a521833e76f4c

The kid was intrigued. He already had other part-time jobs nearby, knew the area well, and was confident in handing out business cards. He’d been looking for a job, and this was perfect.bf24996dde94622b

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Reading the kid’s hopeful eyes, the chef whispered something to a subordinate, who then whispered in the man’s ear.0d84d2a8a98bc118

After pondering for a moment, 6408b9136c the man took out his c2b2843f88 phone and stood up. He paused and looked 63b5147081 back at the kid.1e99a7777724ebbf

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“What’s your name?”6d25ed6afcd8f66e

“Noh Heesung.”1e729d5eb61e314a

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Heesung watched the man make a call from a distance while sharpening the knife. The once dull blade was now sharp and blue. It needed a few more passes to be perfect, but he decided to stop there. That way, they’d come back sooner.87420296058dfa54

Just as he was 9280c44955 about to set the 797e0c90e3 90% sharpened knife aside, 8e7b8410e8 something brushed his ear.a47a2aa295825df3

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“Eek!”2fb24ff7f179913c

Startled, Heesung let out a 8dbff34723 metallic scream, eyes wide. The man urged him.5caa4d7be5d60a30

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“What are you doing? Hurry up and 71cdb5b0ed say thank you.”ca496cbcf5e60104

But Heesung, pale with shock, couldn’t speak or breathe properly. His eyes dropped to the floor.7cc49ba23e63ac56

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The man had suddenly thrust a phone at him, and Heesung’s hand had instinctively reached out. Luckily, he was safe. He almost stabbed the man.6d81ba250dcbf5b7

But it wasn’t just luck. The man’s deft hand had swiftly grabbed the knife handle, avoiding the blade with skill.114f246050a1aefe

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