episode_0108

If something impossible happens before your eyes, it is most likely a dream. Such is the situation unfolding before my eyes right now.

I was standing at the entrance to a very familiar apartment. And there was another me walking along, holding hands with a girl.

‘It’s been a while since I had a childhood dream. And that too from an observer’s point of view.’

Another me, an elementary school student. And my younger sister Sohee, holding my hand.

Usually, our mom comes to school to pick us up, but that day she couldn’t come to pick us up.

Since I was in the upper grades of elementary school, I was able to come home alone with my younger brother. And I was proud of this fact. Did you think that being able to come home alone was proof that you had become an adult? Even I can’t understand the way I thought when I was young.

I pass through the apartment entrance, say hello to the security guard, and enter the building.

Get on the elevator, press the button and wait.

My younger sister is talking about something that happened at school.

I also talk about things that happened at school.

Even though there is no conversation, I don’t really care.

When I get home, I wash my hands and feet with my younger brother. Normally I didn’t want to do it because it was a hassle, but that day I was intoxicated with the thought of being an adult, so I did my best even if no one told me to.

The next day’s work has been decided. Turn on the TV and watch animations for children. After Dad got home from work, the TV was his and we both had to do our homework. I had to enjoy it as much as I could before Dad got off work.

I thought I was an adult, but now I’m watching animation for children.

After all, I can’t even understand the way I thought when I was young.

Mom didn’t come back until dinner time. Thanks to this, Sohee and I were able to run around and play as loudly as we wanted. I feel sorry for the people on the floor below, but what can you do? I was a young child.

When I was getting hungry after playing for a while, my brother came home with some chicken.

I thought the chicken was a reward for coming home alone and watching my little brother well.

I was so preoccupied with the chicken that I didn’t know what kind of face my brother was making.

*

The dream is blurry. Maybe it’s because my memories afterward are blurry.

The dream was distorted, like a crackling TV screen. Instead, the sound was heard clearly.

Mom’s cries can be heard through the door.

Accordingly, the crying sound of my younger sister’s nose.

My brother’s voice was desperately suppressing my trembling as if he was trying to reassure me.

The crackling screen became clear, and the first thing that appeared was my father’s portrait.

Death came very suddenly. A fire broke out at my dad’s factory, and my dad, who was in charge of the scene, couldn’t get out in time to evacuate his employees.

Firefighters arrived late and rescued my father, but he was already in a state where he could not be revived, and he died.

My father’s death was a huge psychological shock, but it also brought with it practical problems.

Yes, money in the end. Money was the problem.

Living expenses, education expenses for my three siblings, and college tuition when they go to college in the future. Loan interest that must be repaid every month and other various expenses.

Although I had savings, industrial accident compensation, and death insurance, it was difficult to afford all of this without additional income.

In the end, Mom tightened her belt. I basically worked late at night, moved to a cheaper and smaller house, and saved as much as I could.

I didn’t become poor enough to die right away. But he acted like he was poor. Perhaps my mother also became alert because of my father’s death.

I can’t say that this mother’s choice was wrong, but her struggle to leave a lot of money did not leave behind any ‘memories’ that might be more precious than that.

*

My mother wasn’t the only one who changed due to the big event of my father’s death. My three siblings were also bound to be greatly affected, no matter how big or small it was.

First, my older brother had his first fight with my mom. He was always polite and kind to us, and he got good grades and was a model student. The fact that my older brother fought with my mother felt like a big change to me.

I didn’t know at the time what the fight was about. However, considering that my older brother dropped out of school after that and started working at a factory, I think he fought to give up his studies and help his mother.

My younger sister, Sohee, locked herself in her room. Of the three siblings, Sohee was the one my father liked the most, and my father also liked Sohee the most, so the sense of loss must have been that great.

I, who was caught in the middle of it all, was blown away. The age before graduating from elementary school. My brain has grown enough to accept death, but at the same time, I am still immature. That age where you feel responsible for doing something, but at the same time you can’t do anything.

My older brother and my mother wanted me and Sohee to grow up without suffering, so I was not given any roles or responsibilities.

So I became a game junkie.

Me as a child playing ‘Black Heart’ on an old TV screen.

While all the luxury goods were sold off, the expensive game console remained, because it was no different from my father’s keepsake.

When my older brother entered high school, my dad tried to give him an entrance gift. But my brother didn’t really want a gift, nor did he want anything in particular.

So my father asked factory workers to find out what high school boys would want, and the game console was chosen.

However, my father, who did not know much about game consoles, did not know that game CDs had to be purchased separately. So I just bought the console, and since my brother wasn’t interested in games in the first place, he ended up putting it in the closet.

On the other hand, I was interested in gaming consoles. So, I installed this game console and ran it without my father and brother knowing.

Of course, the game console was empty. I searched the console box to find out how to play the game, and in the process, I found the Black Heart CD that was included.

It turned out that my father had purchased a package that included Black Heart and a game console. Although I didn’t know it myself.

Anyway, after many twists and turns, my first game of Black Heart ended in just 10 minutes. How can an elementary school child play a game that even adults can’t do because it’s difficult? This is a natural result.

So the game console was put back in the closet.

Until my dad passed away.

After my dad passed away, I wanted to do something for my family. So I decided to clear this black heart that my dad left behind.

I’m not sure what thought process led to that conclusion.

Maybe he thought that if he cleared this, his father would be happy in heaven. Plus, other family members weren’t interested in the game. I guess I felt like it was something only I could do.

After all, I can’t even understand the way I thought when I was young.

So I played Blackheart all day.

As the level of difficulty was considerable, I started researching it alone by scribbling down strategies in a notebook, and felt an indescribable sense of accomplishment each time I conquered the bosses one by one.

It was a bloody game, but for some reason, my brother let me play it and even gave me advice sometimes.

I thought this was recognition from my older brother, so I fell in love with Black Heart even more.

*

The dream is distorted again, and the scene changes.

Me still playing Black Heart in the living room. And Sohee sits on the sofa and watches it. At some point, Sohee came out of the room and started watching the game.

“Oppa. Who controls that monster?”

One day, Sohee pointed to the boss monster and asked me.

Since I was controlling the player character, I would naturally have thought that someone else would be controlling the boss monster as well.

“You just move by yourself? If you look here, it moves like this.”

It was Sohee’s voice that I hadn’t heard in a long time. I felt better, so I paused the game and showed him the strategy notes and explained in detail.

Sohee looked at it and asked various questions. Because I couldn’t answer those questions with my knowledge,

“Ask your brother.”

I had to pass Sohee’s question on to my older brother, who was the smartest person I knew at the time.

Sohee came out after spending a while in her brother’s room, holding a difficult-looking book in her hands.

“Oppa! Look at this!”

“What is this? person… Public intelligence?”

Sohee said to me with a bright smile.

“They say this can save Dad!”

At the time, I didn’t understand what Sohee was saying. However, Sohee, who had always been lifeless after her father’s death, seemed full of energy again, so I had no choice but to tell her to work hard.

‘…I miss you. If I go back and I’m 28 instead of 20… . What will happen to Sohee?’

Sohee is a genius, so she must have made great innovations and changed the world.

‘Still, I wish I could go back when I was 20.’

That way, I will be able to watch my sister’s activities from the side.

*

*

“Ugh… .”

When I opened my eyes, the sofa was soaked with saliva. Maybe my sleeping position was bad, but my neck hurt really bad.

“Haaam… . When did you fall asleep?”

I looked at the clock, it was 3 o’clock. I think he probably took a nap right after lunch.

Thanks to a dream I haven’t had in a long time, it felt like something good would happen today.

Tidik–tick–tididik.

That’s how it felt until a message was printed from a wireless telegraph machine that only handles urgent matters.

“Bir, what does it say?”

“…It says that the magic sword was stolen.”

“Huh?”

My body jumped up on its own at the sudden news, and I snatched the message Bir was holding and read it.

“The magic sword was stolen from the O-Parts storage locker. It is believed that they took advantage of the moment when CCTV was temporarily disabled… . A note left by the criminal was found at the scene… . Holy shit.”

At the bottom of the message was written what the criminal had left.

– I’ll take the magic sword~. Thanks to you, I think we can create an even more wonderful wonderland! Your lovely partner (^ㅅ^)

The fourth Wonderland started earlier than expected.