episode_0067

November 1, 2024.

The cool morning breeze caresses the thick school uniform. It seems like only yesterday that I wore short sleeves, but the time has come when I crave for a dress shirt that makes me feel like a working adult.

To put it simply, it’s cold. Nowadays, anyone who goes to school wearing short sleeves is being presumptuous.

Autonomous Private High School – Students with the symbol of Yegwang High School, also known as a private high school, embroidered on their school signs are busily walking to school. I, an ordinary high school student, was no different.

It was just as I was passing through the school gate.

phut!

A loud noise comes from the main backpack on my back. As soon as that happens, the source of the noise naturally sits right next to me and greets me politely.

“How was your day yesterday, Lien?”

A guy who laughs cheerfully like a rascal asks openly. Although it is a difficult topic in many ways, it is difficult to get angry because you know that he has no malicious intentions.

“It wasn’t good. Life changes depending on the decimal point of my grades…”

“The medical school entrance exam is really tough…”

“I think it’s because my mom and dad are a doctor couple. At times like this, I want to go back to the past…”

My friend who was listening to my rambling tilted his head.

“Why the past all of a sudden?”

“You know what? In our parents’ generation, medical schools were much less popular than engineering schools.”

“What? Really?”

“Yeah, I guess that’s why life is like a stock.”

I am living a life of desperate struggle to somehow buy the Emperor’s stocks in such a stock market. Since my spoon is shiny gold, I study hard to repay my parents who gave me such a spoon.

But… if I were to speak out about my personal desires, I honestly don’t know if I really need to go to medical school.

Maybe you’re full.

I’ve never felt financially troubled… and with my current grades, I can freely choose my future.

After shaking off my thoughts, I asked my friend.

“But Yutae, did your report card turn out okay?”

Ha Yu-tae. A friend I’ve known since middle school gently scratches the back of his head. I think I asked a difficult question.

“I’m… so-so. I guess I should just live moderately, unlike you, right?”

“Why, you know. I don’t know what it’s like in real life, but when I watch dramas, they brag a lot about their youngest son’s grades and stuff.”

“Is there any reason to bring shame to the family by bragging about being an illegitimate child? I’ll gratefully accept the living expenses, but I absolutely do not want to be involved in the future.”

“Um…”

“What, why?”

Jew was a guy with what is commonly called a ‘secret of birth’.

The secret illegitimate child of the chairman of Sunrang Group, one of the largest conglomerates in South Korea, was Yoo Tae, and I found out about this by chance while eavesdropping on a phone conversation.

It was pure coincidence that we became friends… but because of that, I sometimes have delusions.

“Didn’t I sometimes say that the world is like a stock market?”

“Huh? That’s right.”

“If you were a stock owner, I think now would be the lowest point.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“I think it was a good idea to buy it.”

“You crazy guy…”

“Just give me the rice cake, Yutae. Even if I graduate from a local medical school, you can just put me in a good one.”

Phew, Yutae laughs. Judging by the way he giggles and holds his stomach, he must have found it quite funny.

“Are you really telling me to just show up one day like the male protagonist of a tragic drama and start a fight over succession like in some soap opera?”

“Wow, this is it. It’s so cool… Should I try it?”

“Oh my… If there was a cool beauty heroine from a wealthy family with a high-handed personality, I’d think about it.”

The Jews laughed humorously. I laughed humorously back and rebuked them.

“Even the youngest son of a conglomerate family can’t avoid being a fanboy.”

“My dad is a conglomerate. Are you saying that our family is a conglomerate?”

“It’s amazing how there’s a contradiction in the short sentence I just said.”

In some ways, it’s a conversation that’s on the edge of being a joke, but I can’t help but laugh out loud. I can only admire the patience to tolerate even somewhat racy jokes.

“By the way, Lien-ah. Did you go to the gym last weekend? Are you really going to sign up?”

“No. I went because studying is also about physical strength, but I’m going to quit because there aren’t any particular problems. At the time, I just experienced the treadmill and left.”

“Still, I’m surprised you went. You’re brave enough to think of moving your body.”

“… Okay.”

Honestly, the atmosphere of the gym was good. Just watching people working out with weights passionately made me feel liberated and a little envious.

At least… until the smell of a foreigner’s body odor mixed with perfume started to sting my nose. Until then, I think I had the will to take some time off on the weekend.

‘Ugh… let’s not think about it.’

I need to start by going to college before I sweat and take care of my health.

The petty conversation soon came to an end.

The moment I arrived at the classroom, my instinctive routine began. As soon as I put my earphones in, I quietly opened up my English listening test paper, which was full of past questions.

◇

The sun setting in the west reflected a crimson glow. It was the time when the sky was dyed in sunset.

After the regular school day is over, it is time for night self-study. However, today, instead of doing night self-study, I took the bus after school.

The purpose was to purchase books needed for the performance evaluation.

Since I haven’t decided on a topic yet, I’m planning to go to the bookstore and think about it carefully. That’s why I went to Gwanghwamun. The largest bookstore in Korea is located right in Gwanghwamun Station.

‘It’s healing…’

That was the thought that came to mind as I stepped into the spacious bookstore.

To be honest, my decision to visit the bookstore was a selfish one. There are many books in the school library, so I just need to choose the appropriate ones. However, today, I felt a little depressed, so I needed a little break.

I took a walk around the bookstore for about 30 minutes.

It was only 30 minutes, but somehow the act of letting go of my studies made me feel guilty. So I picked out a book that would be a suitable topic for the performance evaluation and headed to the checkout counter.

There is no right to criticize Pavlov’s dog.

The further I get away from my studies, the more I feel a choking sensation, as if my neck is being tied to a textbook.

As soon as I came out of the library, I sighed as I looked at the blue sky with the sunset glow.

I was once again envious of Ju-tae. His attitude toward life, which did not lose its positivity even with mediocre grades, was dazzling.

Did you go to the PC room today?

The best kind of debauchery is to stop by a bookstore and buy a book, but they do such horrible things. It doesn’t seem like the attitude of a student at all.

It was a time when I was needlessly blaming a friend who had done nothing wrong.

Yeah, woof-!

A vibration rang in my pocket. I thought it was a call from my parents, but it was actually a notification from a webtoon I usually follow.

‘You said you were going to be late today, but you’re only posting now.’

If there’s one thing that makes me happy every day, it’s webtoons.

When I come home from school and scroll down in a dark room right before going to bed, I feel like I’m in heaven.

The writer was overcome with disappointment because that brief pleasure was not there last night.

Even if you hate it, scroll down with the mindset of doing it again.

A dopamine-pumping, cider-like fantasy that captures your attention.

How can the main character’s killing be so stimulating? The incredible battle scenes where he defeats his enemies with superhuman abilities are fascinating. Sometimes, I get lost in the fantasy world of this and daydream about taking a Musou.

This is why it is hypocritical to criticize Jews as otaku.

It feels like I’m still in my second year of middle school.

I’m starting to wonder how long I’ll be obsessed with webtoons.

“Sigh…”

As the splendid lights of the buildings grew brighter, the temperature dropped inversely.

Certainly, the night view of Gwanghwamun was a spectacular sight. Even though I know that all those bright lights are the result of working overtime that people curse, I can’t help but think that they are pretty.

With such meaningless thoughts, I stood in front of the crosswalk.

Today is November 1, 2024.

All Saints’ Day.

It was a day when the boundary between life and death was broken down.

As I cross the crosswalk, a familiar purple light surrounds me.

Eventually, the wish came true.

The absurd dream of going to this world, gaining immense power, and slaughtering enemies has finally come true.

The ordinary boy, unaware of the weight of vague hopes, had no idea what kind of future awaited him.

… Memories of such a reckless past came crashing down and a pitch-black world appeared.

Dismissal, dismissal.

In a world where black noise flies like sparks, a small figure resembling a girl’s womb moves.

“… Letia.”

I called the name of the small figure softly, but the child, cursed by fate and disappointed by fate, never turned to look at me.

It simply conveys a question that contains fear through thought.

Letia asks.

─Are you angry?

“Why do you think so?”

─You’re controlling Dad to get rid of the bad blood.

“That’s right.”

─But… Dad wanted to protect that person.

“Yeah.”

─Do you hate Letia anymore?

The final ordeal.

The end of the survival drama where I escaped safely from Letia and survived.

As the old and worn-out story drew to a close, Letia asked something she had never wanted to ask.

“Letia. The child born is without sin.”

…

“You also saw how Madame Mirelda Neterto, whom you gave a chance for revenge, was comforted.”

…

“… You’re a bad kid, Letia.”

…

I walked towards the small figure. I squeezed through the damp, pitch-black space and closed the distance without stopping. In this way, the distance between me and Letia became so close that it was only the width of a finger joint.

Letia still didn’t look back at me. She didn’t even try to convey what she wanted to say through her thoughts.

So, in the end, I was the only one who opened my mouth.

“You really grew up to be a bad child who caused so much trouble, Letia. ”

The small figure flinched and trembled.

It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t at all upset by Letia’s actions.

How could I not feel any resentment at the absurdities I have experienced in the past?

but…

“And yet, I love that bad kid.”

I knelt down on one knee and hugged Letia’s back tightly.

“No matter what Letia does, no matter what decisions she makes, Daddy will always love Letia.”

─…!

“If you’ve been a bad kid, if you’ve caused so much trouble, I’ll apologize to you with all my might, along with Letia.”

─Why…? It was Letia who was at fault…

To my foolish daughter’s question, I answer in a childish manner.

“Because I’m your father.”

Because you were the child who gave me a reason to live in this world.

You held me tightly with your small hands, even though I was just sitting there blankly, feeling like I would drift away somewhere.

Ironically, the request from Bernacien, which I had accepted under duress, turned out to be a shining light for me.

“Above all… It can’t be wrong for a father to apologize together with his child for his mistakes.”

Then I shared Letia’s vision and pointed to the owner of the container who was shining like a comet in the night sky.

“Look carefully, Letia.”

Ashe, the one and only princess of the Epelante Empire.

The girl, who had only one step left to take before escaping the mansion, was going back on the path she had followed with an upright mind.

When he first visited the mansion, Ashe was extremely arrogant, but he overcame the ordeal and was reborn as a warrior of the mansion.

I finally resisted the temptation of freedom and found a solution by stepping onto uncharted territory.

“I’ll have to wait and see what choice Ash will make.”

At that moment, [the old key] opened the path leading to the rooftop.

The moment the last piece of the puzzle for the ending came into place, my consciousness crumbled.

It was time for the scales of fate to tip.

Letia’s tears fell and soaked the empty, pitch-black world.