Chapter 62: Support From The Brave Tigers Division

“The next story is about the presidential election. In two days, a debate among minor candidates is scheduled. Candidate Kang Jiwoo, currently ranking second in the polls, has announced her participation in the debate, causing quite a stir…”

A second-place candidate participating in a minor candidates’ debate.

The media was fixated on it.

It was unprecedented.

“This is another bold move by Kang Jiwoo. Let’s take a look at how the citizens are reacting.”

“I think it’s a good attitude. Usually, candidates avoid debating with those who poll lower than them, right?”

“I’ve always thought that all presidential candidates should have equal opportunities to debate, regardless of their poll numbers.”

“I’m looking forward to it since Candidate Kang Jiwoo has shown great performance in previous debates.”

The public’s reaction was largely positive.

Many viewed it as an unusual yet courageous stance.

Of course, there were negative reactions, but the news conveniently left out any unfavorable interviews.

Politics and the media were like rice and seaweed—inseparable.

As Kang Jiwoo’s support surged, the media started flocking to her side.

And here was someone who had aligned themselves faster than anyone else.

“Representative Gansina, what are your thoughts on this?”

The woman harboring a venomous snake in her mouth—Gansina.

“Isn’t this a true display of mature democracy? Not dismissing candidates trailing behind but embracing them instead!”

“As expected, Representative Gan has a positive view on this matter.”

“Of course! I even heard that Candidate Kang Jiwoo’s camp was the first to reach out to the minor candidates’ debate. This is what heartfelt, passionate politics looks like—less scheming, more sincerity!”

Gansina praised Kang Jiwoo daily, to a point that felt almost excessive to observers.

But the venomous snake in her mouth was still alive.

“If only Yoo Hangcheol’s camp could learn from this. Didn’t they recently accuse Bong Soohee of admissions fraud only for it to be exposed as false, humiliating themselves completely? Professor Nam Palsu, as a representative of the Republican Party, please apologize for such disgraceful behavior!”

Gansina reprimanded Nam Palsu, a conservative panelist.

“Ah, why is this coming to me now…”

“Professor, you even posted accusatory comments about Bong Soohee on social media before quietly deleting them! Stop pretending you don’t know and apologize here and now!”

“Ugh…”

Nam Palsu wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Every time the news aired, Nam Palsu found himself on the receiving end of Gansina’s scolding.

For a man well into his fifties, being reprimanded by a woman young enough to be his daughter was a serious blow to his pride.

Meanwhile, this news segment became immensely popular among Kang Jiwoo’s supporters.

Title: News Problem Solver Gansina

Comment Highlights:

“Gansina scolding Nam Palsu again LOL”

“Look at the professor sweating buckets.”

“This isn’t WWE anymore; it’s full-on UFC LOL.”

“Here comes my stress reliever.”

“Nam Palsu’s about to cry LOL.”

“Gansina doing her thing LOL.”

Some skeptics expressed concern, but it was undeniable that Gansina’s image had significantly improved among Kang Jiwoo’s supporters.

“Alright, everyone, let’s calm down and move on to the next story.”

The anchor transitioned to the next segment.

“Our next story: Have you heard the term ‘election noise’? Some campaign vehicles are causing excessive noise, disturbing citizens…”

“Too loud! Stop it already, tch!”

Jiwooping covered her ears and shouted.

Even an angel like Jiwooping had been pushed to raise her voice.

The culprit?

The noise from campaign vehicles.

“This is too much. They’ve been blasting music non-stop since morning!”

“Even if it’s a legal campaign, there should be limits!”

“It’s driving me crazy…”

Party members and staff expressed their frustrations.

The source of the noise terrorizing their office?

Campaign vehicles from Heo Kyungyeon’s camp.

Three or four vehicles circled the office building, endlessly blasting music.

At this point, everyone had unconsciously memorized the lyrics.

It was a truly petty tactic.

Normally, this wouldn’t have fazed me.

After all, I have the focus to operate under the most extreme conditions.

“Ugh… I feel dizzy… tch…”

But Jiwooping was not the same.

Han Seoyoung let out a deep sigh and stood up.

“Whose golf club is this?”

“Huh? Mine. Why?”

“I’m borrowing it for a moment.”

She grabbed a golf club and headed for the door.

There was a glint in her eye that suggested she wasn’t entirely herself.

Park Seokji quickly stopped her.

“Manager Han, what are you doing? This isn’t the way to solve things.”

“I can’t take it anymore! I’m going to smash everything!”

“Hey! As the secretary-general, you need to show responsibility and patience! You’ll face worse things in politics. Are you going to grab a golf club every time?”

“But…”

Eventually, Han Seoyoung slumped into a chair.

“You said you reported it to the police earlier, right? What did they say?”

“They said it’s not an illegal activity, so they can’t intervene…”

“Are they just wearing uniforms for show? Are they just going to sit back and watch like stone statues?”

“That’s exactly what I said…”

“Tsk. The situation is a bit of a mess, but let’s not overreact. Getting worked up is exactly what those guys want from us.”

Thankfully, we had veteran Representative Park with us.

As expected, her judgment was wise.

If only she applied that same judgment to herself, she’d be top-tier.

It was then that Song Yeon, the secretary looking outside, shouted.

“Someone’s outside!”

“Who’s outside?”

“It’s people on motorcycles… a lot of them. It looks like there’s even a vehicle with speakers.”

“Speakers? Another campaign truck?”

“But they look kind of like soldiers…”

“???”

Party members gathered at the window, murmuring.

What on earth is going on?

I wanted to see too, but I was too short to get a look.

“…”

No matter how much I stood on tiptoes, I couldn’t see.

It felt unfair all over again.

How could I be so short that I can’t even look out the window alone?

“Should we go out and check?”

“Let’s do that.”

“Siljangping, Siljangping, can I come with you…?”

“Yes, let’s go together!”

The party members poured out of the office.

I grabbed Han Seoyoung’s hand and quickly followed.

“The name, the brave warriors of the Mighty Tiger Unit~

Wherever you go, even if it’s the faraway skies of Vietnam~

We’ll follow you with the united hearts of our people~”

Two songs overlapped on the main road.

One was Heo Kyungyeon’s campaign song.

The other was an old military song from the Vietnam dispatch.

“Comrades! Let’s sing together!”

The person leading the scene was someone I knew.

“M-Manjangping…!”

Manjangping.

Another name for Dongmyo Tom Cruise.

“Candidate! How have you been?!”

I ran up to him and hugged him.

Even though it was only our second meeting, it felt like reuniting with family.

“Great! But what brings you here, Manjangping?”

Tom Grandpa, wearing cool sunglasses,

And chewing on a toothpick, looked like an old Hong Kong star.

He flashed a radiant smile and answered.

“I heard our candidate is being harassed, so how could we stand by? The comrades from the Veterans’ Association and Dongmyo merchants joined forces to help!”

A worn-out truck, seemingly from Dongmyo,

Carried a giant speaker on top of it.

The military song was coming from there.

Behind them, men on motorcycles revved their engines.

“Wow…”

I couldn’t help but admire the sight.

It was chaotic with all the singing, but having such reliable reinforcements was incredible.

“Manjangping, you’re the best!”

“Haha, glad to hear it was worth the effort!”

Fortunately, the operation was carried out very gentlemanly.

No one got hurt.

There were just a few loud arguments.

In the end, Dongmyo Tom Cruise successfully drove off the campaign truck.

“If you ever run into trouble again, just call us. We’ll come to help.”

“Thank you so much!”

Dongmyo Tom Cruise left just like that.

Without asking for anything in return.

“Wow, that’s so clean it makes me feel guilty.

Usually, people expect something in return for this kind of help.

But Grandpa Tom made no such demands.

Maybe he’ll ask for something later, but…

Even so, I have to admit it. With this much help, it’s worth it.”

I was grateful that he extended his hand first.

It meant he had expectations for me.

“I can’t disappoint my supporters.”

I had to show a completely different side of myself in the next debate.

That would be my way of repaying their interest and love.

As I watched Tom Cruise walking away, Jiuping murmured.

“Please watch the debate… I’ll do well….”

Han Seoyoung left work a little early.

It was to provide Kang Jiwoo with a better study environment.

“I can’t believe you’re suddenly working so hard. It’s really surprising.”

Yesterday, Bong Soohee said,

“Jiwooping seems to have leveled up.”

When I asked if she was spouting nonsense about some game, she just said I’d understand soon.

“Seriously, it’s like he’s leveled up. No, at this rate, isn’t it evolution?”

Kang Jiwoo sat in the passenger seat, reading documents the entire time Han Seoyoung was driving.

For ten minutes, she mumbled to herself without saying a word.

“Candidate, aren’t you feeling carsick?”

“……”

“Candidate?”

“Yes… I’m okay…”

She was so engrossed in her reading that she barely heard what was being said.

Or perhaps she was pretending not to hear—it wasn’t clear. But one thing was certain: her focus was impressive.

And so, Han Seoyoung had prepared something in advance.

Something called “special tutoring.”

“There’s only so much I can teach you… Teaching someone is far harder than one might imagine.

Especially if the student is a child?

It’s even more challenging.”

Children don’t know what they know or don’t know.

They are full of questions, but they lose interest quickly and get easily distracted.

These are traits that adults often find hard to relate to.

That’s why the special teacher was someone who could meet Kang Jiwoo at eye level.

“Candidate, we’re here. Shall we get out of the car?”

“Yes.”

“There will be a special teacher waiting for you at home.”

“A teacher…?”

“Yes, someone who will help you prepare for the debate.”

“……”

Kang Jiwoo’s pupils shook.

Her expression seemed to ask, Why are you telling me this now?

She was timid and had a fear of meeting new people.

Even so, her effort not to show outright dislike was endearing.

“Well, you know… Siljangping…”

“Yes?”

“That… te-teacher… Are they scary?”

As expected, she seemed worried.

Han Seoyoung suppressed her laughter and tried to maintain a serious face.

“They’re a very scary tiger teacher.”

“What…!”

Kang Jiwoo froze, her face turning into one that seemed about to cry.

She trembled as if she had actually encountered a tiger.

“The teacher is waiting at home. Let’s go quickly.”

“B-but… I don’t really need a teacher…”

“What nonsense is that? You need to practice thoroughly with the teacher.”

“…Okay.”

She blinked slowly as she got out of the car.

Between her slightly parted lips, rabbit-like teeth peeked through.

Holding the hand of the trembling “rabbit-human,” Han Seoyoung opened the front door.

Finally, they met the teacher.

The “scary tiger teacher.”

Her true identity was—

“Jiwooping! I’ve been waiting!”

“So, Sojinping…?”

It was Lee Sojin, a prodigy who had destroyed the elite Gangnam students in children’s debate competitions.

“Why are you here…?”

“I’m your teacher for today!”

“Teacher…?”

Kang Jiwoo took a moment to process the situation.

Her friend, Sojin, was calling herself a teacher, and Han Seoyoung was grinning mischievously.

It was a joke…!

Realizing the truth, Kang Jiwoo ran up to Sojin and hugged her tightly.

“I’m so happy to see you!”

“Me too! I’m glad to see you!”

The two hugged and jumped around in joy, pure and childlike.

“I have good news!”

“What is it…?”

“I’m staying over tonight!”

“…!”

Kang Jiwoo’s eyes widened.

This was her first time spending the night with a friend.

“Then we can play late into the night…!”

Anything done for the first time brings joy and anticipation.

The thought of playing all night with her friend thrilled Kang Jiwoo.

Meanwhile, Sojin’s plans were a little different.

“Yes! Let’s study and play together!”

“???”

Study and play?

Studying was studying, and playing was playing.

What did it mean to study while playing?

That night, Kang Jiwoo found out.

The reason Lee Sojin was so smart…!