I Became a Law School Genius

Chapter 1

Episode 1

“Remember this.”

A middle-aged man in a sharp suit declared solemnly.

“The law is not a self-contained order. It is not the ultimate definition of justice. It is merely a collection of dusty words. The task of breathing life into those words, of turning them into the force that protects real people with flesh, blood, and bone—that is the duty entrusted to you as trained legal professionals. Do not forget this.”

Silence descended upon the room, as if everyone was overwhelmed by the weight of his words.

But only for a moment.

Soon, someone began to clap, and a torrent of applause erupted. The man responded with a slight bow.

A surge of emotion welled up inside me, and I was about to join in the applause when...

[Thank you for your love of the webtoon ‘In the Law School’.]

A line of text appeared on the screen of my old-fashioned work computer.

“Oh, Senior, are you watching this too?”

The voice startled me back to reality.

“What? When did you get here?”

“Just now.”

I checked the time. It was already five o'clock.

Not five in the afternoon, but five in the morning.

The dim office was slowly being illuminated by the rising sun.

Whether it was the time for starting work or leaving, it was far from normal.

“I didn’t think you were interested in this kind of thing, Senior.”

“What kind of thing?”

“Manga, dramas, movies, novels, and other cultural and leisure activities.”

You’re always just working...

The dark circles under my junior’s eyes were also pronounced.

I thought I was in no position to talk, but if we were being honest, I was the bigger workaholic.

Even if I left work now, I would be back at 9 a.m. when everyone else was starting their day.

“...It was a dream of mine.”

“Huh? Law school?”

“No, to be a lawyer. I studied for the bar exam.”

It was a story from my younger, more passionate university days.

Back when rumors of the abolishment of the bar exam were rampant, I was confident in my studies and thought I could pass before that happened.

In fact, I easily passed the first-stage exam on my first try.

The following year, I even passed the second-stage exam.

The second stage of the bar exam, which many brilliant minds failed after years of attempts.

All that was left was the interview, a formality that didn't really affect the outcome.

But I never became a lawyer.

On the day of the interview, my younger sibling collapsed from an illness.

Having lost our parents early, I was the only one who could take them to the hospital.

After rushing them to the hospital and going through the necessary procedures, it was too late for my interview.

It was okay.

I could take the exam again next year, but my sibling was one of a kind.

Besides, there was a grace period for those who passed the second-stage exam. If they failed the interview or couldn't attend, they could retake just the interview the following year.

“Yeah?”

“...If, just if...”

His tone was unusually serious.

“If all that debt was gone, and you had the chance to challenge anything you wanted.”

I turned around without thinking.

“Would you still want to become a lawyer?”

It was a pointless question.

My debt wasn’t going away, and I wasn’t getting a chance to challenge anything I wanted.

And yet, I still paused and pondered because of the unusual gleam in my junior’s eyes.

“...I don’t know.”

I couldn’t answer. I fled the office.

For some reason, I felt like his gaze was piercing my back for a long time.

* * *

“...Ugh, what’s wrong with me.”

I was in the middle of the road on my way back to my lodgings.

My eyelids were heavy as lead.

The strength was draining from my body.

I couldn't hold up my wobbly legs and collapsed to my knees.

“Hey, are you okay!?”

A passerby’s voice sounded like it was coming from far away.

My consciousness was fading in and out.

Finally, I vaguely realized that I was paying the price for overworking my body for so long.

-Senior, do you still want to become a lawyer?

In my hazy mind, my junior's question resurfaced for some reason.

...Actually, you know.

-Yes.

I wanted to be a great prosecutor.

-A prosecutor?

The world isn't fair. There are so many things that don't make sense. But everyone should be equal before the law. Even if reality isn't like that, we should make it so. I wanted to be the one to make that happen.

-...

Whenever I thought about that, no. Only when I thought about that.

My heart still races.

-I see.

Well, it seems like it’s not going to happen in this life.

But I did live my life to the fullest, right? I worked hard. I devoted my life to my family.

So, if there is a next life. If I'm given a chance to live again.

Then... Yeah. I want to be born into a life where I can just study like those students in that webtoon.

I want to chase the dreams I couldn't achieve.

That was what I should have said, was the thought that crossed my mind.

-That's good. Then try it.

Try what?

Before I could even think about that question, my consciousness completely blacked out.