episode_0049

After getting off at Kennedy International Airport at the crack of dawn, I got into the car of a Bank of America employee who came to pick me up and headed to the office.

It was quite a rare experience to wander around like an ant in a forest of skyscrapers. Even Silicon Valley, which is filled with buildings, wasn’t like this.

“Arrived.”

I got out of the car and went straight up the elevator, briefly leaving my coworkers behind. While looking at the information board attached to the elevator, I wondered when Lehman Brothers, whose name was clearly on the board, would take down its sign, and before long, I arrived at the Hyundai O Automobile Group.

“Oh, you’re here, Seo-ssi.”

“Hello. It’s nice to see someone from the same hometown after so long.”

It seems like it’s been a long time since I’ve spoken Korean outside of the house. At my company, the employees are so multinational that the only time I spoke Korean was when I was talking to my roommates at home, since they all spoke English.

“I think I explained in the document I sent you earlier that we are releasing a new car this time.”

“I’ve read the information about 2OKani carefully. Since we’re not aiming for supercar-oriented racing, I think it’ll fit well with the game we’re making… I think it’s a good fit in many ways.”

“Good. However, our higher-ups don’t seem to be very positive about this project… so the conditions have become a bit more stringent.”

“Are you saying it’s difficult?”

“First of all, the license fee is quite… Yes. That’s what they asked for, and there shouldn’t be any scenes where the car gets damaged, and the stats in the part of the plan that was sent first had to be ‘always’ and ‘completely’ discussed with the head office… In addition, there was a request to make it perform better than the actual car if possible…”

Well, it’s a somewhat acceptable condition. Vehicle damage was an element that some racing games in the original world didn’t include, and in the case of vehicle spec adjustments, it was basic to consult with the manufacturer even if changes were made during service for balance. Actually, I want to include vehicle damage… but if it’s not possible, I’ll just have to pass.

However, the outrageous Lions cost and performance falsification, which are more expensive than those of German car companies, are a bit of a problem. Especially since the performance falsification makes it meaningless to put in an actual car.

“I think the license fee will require a lot of negotiation… and I would like to tell you that it is not possible in cases such as performance.”

“Oh, that’s okay. As for performance, it was a secondary request. I personally thought it was a bit excessive.”

So we were talking about licensing fees and various other matters to be discussed.

“If you can’t back out of the license fee, you’d better go for the car damage-”

No more words came out.

No, it was a little different. The words were drowned out by other sounds.

The cause was an excessively loud noise that assaulted my ears.

I wasn’t the only one experiencing this tinnitus. Everyone was frowning.

The tinnitus grew louder and louder until I thought my eardrums were going to burst.

Kwaaang!!!!!

No, the onomatopoeia is bland. This onomatopoeia is not even enough to express the sound of self-propelled artillery fire that I heard in the military.

Literally, the sound just exploded.

The earth shook and the windows blew out in all directions in an instant.

The papers piled on the desks began to flutter, and the wind coming in through the broken windows carried them around the office like a deflating balloon.

The emergency bell rang loudly. It was a little different from the usual emergency bell sound we usually think of. It was a heart-wrenching, terrifying sound that filled the office.

After the emergency bell started ringing, the announcement was made a little later.

[People inside the First World Trade Center are requested to evacuate immediately. This is a real situation. I will inform you once again…]

World Trade Center. Only after hearing this did I regain my senses and understand the situation.

‘The wars and battles of the future will be terrorism and urban warfare.’

Tom Clash’s words flashed through my mind.

September 11, 2001

America was under attack.

***

Why didn’t I remember this?

Of course, there are probably not many people who remember that the 9/11 terrorist attacks occurred in 2001. Still, if you had a strong feeling that it was September 11th, you should have noticed.

At least you could have just looked up the address without having to rely on the staff. Was it that hard to just click on it once?

“…Mr. Seo!”

Well, come to think of it, isn’t it the company’s fault for calling me here early in the morning on a day like this? Did they say they didn’t like my superiors and tried to kill me with a car accident? I guess it’s not a dizzying car after all-

“Mr. Lee Seo!”

Hot what am I thinking. My head is spinning weirdly because of the panic.

“Let’s go down the stairs quickly as instructed. If we continue like this, we’ll be in big trouble.”

The stairs were already crowded with people. I somehow got in line and was slowly going down the stairs when suddenly the path opened up.

A firefighter came up the stairs, panting, holding a hose, and people applauded and cheered for the firefighter who was on the verge of death.

But my hands moved, but I could not catch them. I could not stop that sublime, determined look, even as I gasped for breath.

Eventually, I stopped reaching out and clapped my hands together.

This was a round of applause and a clap of hands.

***

Somehow I got down safely. It took over an hour just to get down, so I was nervous the whole way down.

On the way down, there was another loud noise and an explosion. Perhaps a plane had crashed into World Trade Center II.

When I came out, the lobby was full of screams and chaos, a stark contrast to the neat atmosphere I had felt when I entered.

“Boss!”

“Mr. Elon! Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine. I’m glad the boss looks fine too.”

“Let’s somehow escape by car. You never know when the building might collapse.”

I just couldn’t look at the black thing next to me. I was just a fucking coward.

Miraculously, we were able to catch the car of the employee who had initially come to see us off just before the building collapsed.

That’s how we survived.

***

[We demand the complete and irreversible destruction of all those who collaborate with al Qaeda and the nation]

[We do not distinguish between those who commit terrorism and those who support terrorism]

[From tonight, America declares war on terror]

[America never supports]

America is literally on emergency alert.

To be precise, the entire nation was united and enraged.

And the aftermath of this national emergency was something I could not avoid.

“Is it true that you were at the scene of the disaster?”

“You predicted this disaster through the game-”

My head hurt. I get goosebumps just walking into the building on my way to work, but they just see it as a sensational article.

“We are not the Illuminati who know the future and intervene in terrorism. The scenario I created is just an assumption and a fiction that this could easily happen. I hope it doesn’t put too much burden on the victim, Lee Seo.”

Clash, who couldn’t stand to watch, made his own statement. But that didn’t mean that reporters stopped pestering me.

Eventually, I ended up staying at home during my break.

“I guess you don’t understand. I told you not to leave until the reporters leave?”

Let me be clear: I was locked up in my house during my break.

***

“TV! Turn on the TV! Quickly!”

While I was working on a song for EZ2MX, some of my staff members urgently turned on the TV.

As soon as I turned on the TV, the first thing that came on was a scene of a building on fire… and a plane crashing into another building.

“There’s the boss over there! Call the boss first!”

I quickly took out my phone and tried to call Lee Seo, but all I got was a cold, robotic voice telling me the connection was not working.

My heart was collapsing along with the building.

It was almost an hour later that a call came from Ise.

“Isseo! Are you okay?!”

[I, I’m fine. I almost got in big trouble, but I survived. Yeah.]

“Hey Hwasang! Why aren’t you answering the phone! I thought I was in big trouble again…!”

[I tried calling too, but the signal wasn’t working… But it’s okay since I confirmed that he’s alive. Right?]

“Oh my, oh my…

[Huh? Crying?]

“It’s because of you! Whoaaah!!!”

That’s when I decided. I couldn’t take my eyes off of Lee Seo. We had to be together, always, forever. I didn’t know what would happen to her if I took my eyes off her even for a moment.

My confidence grew when I saw Lee Seo surrounded by reporters as soon as she returned.

That’s why, as soon as Lee Seo got home, she locked the door.

If there is no reason to leave the house, nothing else will happen to Lee Seo.

“No, I’m just going to the mart to buy juice and food.”

“I’ll buy it. I got my license too.”

Driving a car? That’s ridiculous. What if there’s a car bomb attack like Mr. Clash said?

“The Amazon merger needs to proceed quickly. If we continue like this, we won’t miss the timing.”

“Please give instructions by email. I heard you are creating a department dedicated to external affairs this time. You should also increase your experience in that area.”

Are you going to go to work like that? To a building where reporters are lined up, where a plane could crash at any moment?

“Ugh, withdrawal symptoms from the game…”

“I brought a new test device that was sitting in the company warehouse.”

They are just talking nonchalantly, without even thinking about what they have been through and will be going through again.

This girl can’t be separated from me. She has to be able to play comfortably at home and survive in such a peaceful state.

After this situation continued for two days, Seo finally surrendered and locked himself in his room.

I lie in bed, play a game when I’m bored, surf the internet, and then lie back in bed.

It was a shame that the peephole was blocked by the rhythm game device, but it made me feel good to see him resting like that.

It always hurt my heart to see the dark circles under her eyes not disappearing from her face, but finally, when I saw that the dark circles were slowly disappearing from Lee Seo’s face, I felt relieved.

Sometimes, no, often, I would go to Iseo’s room to play, hug her, rub her, and bury my nose in her neck.

It’s because of the fragrant yet strange smell of Iseo that wafts out whenever I enter Iseo’s room. It’s not because I’m gloomy or anything.

This one even touches me in return… Hehehe…

As we lay in bed together and rubbed our bodies together, our whole bodies became drenched in sweat.

Ah, isn’t this the real Yas?

Today too, the polar bear was shedding salty tears as it looked at the sea becoming colder.