BT | Chapter 1.1

[Knives~ Sharpened, Knives!]f66f7b35359a6081

An unexpected, folksy tune fb7f3fbca4 rang out loudly in 9fb02eb315 the heart of Seoul. And it was right on dc12f12bb9 Apgujeong Rodeo Street, famous for 5259b18b1f its sky-high land and house df8f57e08d prices. The sudden burst e271c40278 of this folksy 89588cf765 song was as 8f1b5957ae effective as an 29a9291a20 idol hit song e6b7935165 in terms of 62f188076f advertising.067eb906ecf6c167

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[Dull knives, rusty knives, chipped knives! Sharpened~ nice and sharp, knives!]209b7c10e03ac4ac

It not only 3ea8e63f17 turned heads but 51493c0443 also gathered every 387bce2516 possible gaze. No one could resist ababfce3b4 looking back. People even stopped what 1d1c2dca25 they were doing to b78af456f7 come out and watch.8d00b0f7d66dcf71

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What could be so amazing 18080d3093 to cause such a commotion? Curious eyes clung ba92f5dd6e to the scene, 278ae3ace0 as if witnessing d71324ece5 something incredibly fascinating.ee0e229271f1b14e

What is it, really? Those who gathered fa0f045120 late, wondering what d85ca60233 was going on, eaf6ec57fb all had the 225dd08a7c same reaction. Some had suspicious looks, but ddcc34d116 even they were too busy b79ddeb3a2 watching to say anything.a906bf623d8622a9

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A sudden silence fell. But only for a moment.3895552ba7a22d4a

[Knives~ Sharpened, knives! Dull knives, rusty knives, chipped knives…]65c8ecf6d5507afb

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The carefree tune flowed out 7ea5c7c371 again, easily breaking the silence. Then, as if waiting 8146a1ee37 for it, the chaotic e9a41227f4 noise rose up, heating 638b66f24e the calm air intensely.d108c7b18379bd52

Amidst the noisy 734357e97b chatter of the 479a39d005 onlookers, a low 04b2bb428f call was heard.fe96ed0703643209

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“Hey, stop there.”b17224e5501659de

The attention quickly shifted, and 49f1cddd56 this time it was startled 82a67abce9 for a different reason. The loud noise abruptly eaadd36391 stopped, and a moment 92551ca5e2 later, the knife sharpener 8629a9bb51 lowered his megaphone and 5c0f12fb9d turned around brightly.cc993792f5986eb1

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“……!”ae713912a9ec1764

“……?!”89b6f08503140d08

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The two people who recognized 934eda760c each other flinched simultaneously.239c256df2b3fd13

It was no wonder. The knife sharpener, who seemed 8ce7a4defc to be of a certain c6cc7ba727 age, was actually a young 7c0a9cb6d9 kid with soft, downy cheeks, 6cf169b232 and the person who called 9fc9f83c62 him was a giant with a625f6d2f6 colorful tattoos on his arms, d4a69105b5 looking every bit like a 7f156dcce5 current gangster.89aedd1977b5dda4

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Both were as speechless as the onlookers, surprised by each other’s unexpected presence. But the silence was short-lived.f3c9413ac0e29342

Surprisingly, the one who first c1866926d5 hid his surprise was the 5b6b1b6300 innocent-looking kid. While the man hesitated 73cfb6053a for a moment, the 65451a62e0 kid, with cheeks blushing 9880f96cdf like peaches, ran up 6c5e3e6023 to him and spoke 5e30dfe0ba energetically.a61c3d928e53d1c4

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“Did you call me? Want your knife sharpened?”8e92757420657796

“Are you good at it?”b3497b60f962c5f1

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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!”64ea7fc08cd4630a

The kid recited his 6dc0cdd9fd credentials with a bright 45f5aba0c9 smile on his innocent 14ef8f14dd face.024c4223ae3f7bb2

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“Sashimi knives too?”a374a53280953992

“I could sharpen those with my feet.”d0956b013bcb71d5

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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.d1007eaa67910379

“Just give it a try. If you’re not satisfied, you don’t have to pay. I won’t take any money. Really!”d425409a85a529c9

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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.07a9dad23ab49ccf

“Follow me.”2bf82b7e3728da6b

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The decision was quick. The kid, full of excitement, 5fef42bc2f followed the man like a b53e78bf27 puppy chasing its owner.e7c5620f090ffaf9

The onlookers were anxious. What was the kid thinking, 3e2d0877b6 following so eagerly? Who knew what 9be30ba602 that knife might cca54e2021 cut?0d974fe7e1336b9d

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They might soon hear about 8d8de16548 the kid on the news. Yet, no one stepped forward. The man was intimidating, but 66085955e2 the kid seemed so happy, 93d640131e it was as if he 93ad48e85f had an invisible tail wagging.99d98ef11ae1ec74

At this point, 829d0cae55 even if someone 636ae441b4 tried to hold 90cc138858 him back, he 648a4a87e2 would have shaken fc9f7aa953 them off and f89295b55a gone. All they could 2930e25725 do was wish 373d265e05 the kid well.f43a8239995c9028

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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.428a5f084ba553fd

The knife looked dull and chipped, as if it hadn’t been used in a while.0b460fba1f25101e

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“Try sharpening this.”b5cb916e388b11c1

“Yes!” The kid answered confidently and started sharpening the knife without hesitation.0cd3f2493e88e343

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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.2e7e042549d36385

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.def5c2b6b188e3f4

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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.e42271cdffde09af

“You can’t just sharpen a knife any old way. It depends on the type, material, and thickness.”99b4b488e38548c8

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“Shut up and just sharpen it.”b785db75de6792b6

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.39689fe18bd63129

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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?1b06c75d3e18eed3

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.fb602bf7cf26fd12

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Word must have spread because 520ff35fa6 the chef, who should have 99cc7f1658 been busy in the kitchen, cca2c1d66b came up noisily. With a short ponytail, b0f1e0e3c8 he had a knife dd2633e390 hanging at his waist.a4cfdd3e76641d2d

“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…”b5f5703443476e3f

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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.b0f4fe2e8df58fc9

He thought he ab1b30fe1b was seeing things. But the kid was 78f1fa479f real, and the sound 9f55265055 of sharpening was clear 8eecd63ec2 in his ears.11095286689341c5

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The chef’s eyes widened in disbelief.88a437cf986b89a4

“No way…”0bb062158ed97000

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It wasn’t an illusion!69d0129c43acf3d7

“Are you crazy?! Knife sharpening isn’t child’s play. What are you doing…”07a67cf70b4ff5e4

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Just then, the kid proudly 4f6e798cbb presented the sharpened knife. The chef snatched it and 019af6cb47 examined it under the dim 2d50494706 yellow light, expecting to find 1a67d55e3d faults.78da10b820241048

But his smirk 4b73d32bad turned to astonishment.ccb2b2165770dc5e

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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!”7a4a720a24fb26ab

“Is it?”8b5cc8f43eb45b1c

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“Yes. It’s no joke. I can’t do this.”a053121449e4902d

“Then it’s settled. Bring the rest.”13b48190eb46001b

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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.0a8f6724235a497a

Anyone would find it f1d22d719c unsettling, but the kid fa67f7712b was already preparing to fc077c1544 sharpen them all.6599455189c59519

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“When you’re done, have him check them. I’ll pay only if they all pass. Got it?”999d97db0efbd451

“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.868053f8ad97ff14

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‘Jackpot! How much is all this? One, two, three…’ccf4cb96caab251b

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?217d4347c764e1df

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Lost in thought, 26bc27db9b the kid chuckled 508be791ab to himself, and 3f624844bb the chef sat 98fee113c1 down next to d3323b646e him.76eb3c897cb102f1

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.3b74858bca7f5fa0

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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.ed6de1d32b674967

“Wow, this is amazing. It’s like a craftsman’s soul is in this. Awesome.”ccef4d53add62eac

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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.e39a3cd4b2605f35

“Who taught you? Your dad? Grandpa? This isn’t something just anyone can teach. Who was it?”d0da83efde4f4719

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Hoping to end 6227580d69 the questions, the 284266082b kid answered quickly.184bb2be76fdc693

“Mr. Kal¹…”92429652bc4c5de6

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“Mr. Kal? Is he foreign?”d38b6bb791372d01

“I don’t know his real name. He never told me.”d68a915dbdd36d24

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But it didn’t matter. Everyone in the neighborhood called him Mr. Kal. It was short for Kal Ajusshi.cbc2a8389448a52d

The kid had heard it since he was little, so it wasn’t strange. But feeling embarrassed, he added another fact.25aa79d890b22ba9

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“I just heard he was the best knife sharpener in Korea.”c45f944f78728f23

It wasn’t a lie. He had heard it—from Mr. Kal himself. But he left that part out.661f968bc918168c

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“Where did he live?”057e78993b04e89d

“Oh, he’s not here anymore.”8d589ab1435506b9

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“Of course. With skills like that, he wouldn’t stay here. Where did he go? Japan? America? Where?”dec7d14198fd8686

“No, he passed away.”21223402eb2d0871

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It had been years, but e7a215d529 the sadness lingered. The kid blinked 1798b67aea away tears and d02cc44295 resumed sharpening, adjusting 5f09e1d834 the angle as 60ba69a6f5 Mr. Kal had taught him.57ce3111ab7f663b

“Oh no. What happened?”65aa74bcf9406ef5

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“He was stabbed.”05e3404376d176fc

The chef sighed sympathetically.e99d7eb50fc44e7e

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“So you’re his only successor?”6635523a1888d20b

“Yes? Oh… yes. I guess so.”c8f8a98b9b07fb90

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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.6efafc4392f56ea4

Maybe he really was that 7a8b94f50d talented. The kid erased 20b0d6a376 any guilt and ef08858c58 focused on the 6b38b1af3a task. The man, convinced, made an fe6b2a0389 unexpected offer.fd2ed921b50d22c4

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“Teach me.”4355f81191a3a1b9

“What?”b130870bb1122019

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“I’ll pay you well. Teach me your skills.”27864e03c86bd783

“Teaching isn’t hard, but…”ab543a734ed4082f

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“How much do you want? Just say it.”e3bded993bde43da

“Not money. Could you give me b9974d02e6 that job?”293d6f96fd25e3c2

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It wasn’t planned, but the words slipped out. The kid marveled at his own quick thinking.9f23fff31ade5b46

“What job?”84d8c37b5fc939ff

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“I overheard you’re hiring part-timers…”e318d11339bc424b

“We’re not hiring part-timers.”6842e256e8c7f0b4

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“Not here… at Origin.”f81567c21a98067f

The kid spoke cautiously, 2ebec39247 glancing around.c34e79b278019bca

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“Origin?”5437b0839f5443f2

If he heard right, it cae67e4031 was Origin, a club with 68396121dd close ties to this place.9234f36ef12888b8

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The kid nodded. He hadn’t been here long, but he’d picked up important information.d3939cb723a42fd8

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.3fb02c2efbaedb41

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Cheongdam. Origin Club. Business card promotion.e81e89cb19a9d078

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.08d589e7cc8a0af7

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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.d7d451e1d56919f2

After pondering for 41d5884f55 a moment, the 3af35d30be man took out 18db22a077 his phone and 17884173d0 stood up. He paused and looked back f7f94df0cd at the kid.01f0391228d2ef19

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“What’s your name?”2d812f1a46b5f765

“Noh Heesung.”0313637a744082c9

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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.ffd68b311eaf027e

Just as he was about a715db4e83 to set the 90% sharpened f0144ed09a knife aside, something brushed his da6df4d4f8 ear.79def3917795ba14

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“Eek!”acac7e5941a61178

Startled, Heesung let c0a3a5db98 out a metallic 7258ded499 scream, eyes wide. The man urged him.fc8c40ecd6e470b2

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“What are you doing? Hurry up and say thank 083728af80 you.”62fd695930cdb7e6

But Heesung, pale with shock, couldn’t speak or breathe properly. His eyes dropped to the floor.8b5686fe35fab1de

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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.17a9611ec6f913cd

But it wasn’t just luck. The man’s deft hand had swiftly grabbed the knife handle, avoiding the blade with skill.b02358099476e853

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