The next morning.
I sat in front of my computer at 8:30 a.m., having not slept a wink all night.
My body felt as heavy as lead, but my mind was sharp—like a blade drawn bare.
Last night, the U.S. market had collapsed far more brutally than even I remembered.
The Dow Jones had plunged more than 3% in a single day, and news of Wall Street investment banks posting astronomical losses poured in nonstop through the night.
That shockwave was certain to hit the Korean market this morning—without fail.
Instead of opening my HTS right away, I checked the headlines on the major portals first.
[Urgent] U.S. Subprime Shock Slams Asian Markets! Nikkei −4%
[Analysis] Korean Market—Black Monday Ahead? Experts Warn of "Panic Selling"
Every outlet screamed as if the world were ending.
I took a sip of cold coffee.
The bitterness spread across my tongue—but instead of discomfort, my head cleared.
8:50 a.m.
The pre-market auction window opened.
The projected KOSPI index was already pointing to −70 points at the open.
Seeing that number, I smiled faintly.
8:59:58… 59…
The ticking of the second hand sounded unusually loud.
Tick. Tick.
Like a countdown to judgment.
Ding!
The moment the market opened, I held my breath.
A sight I had never once seen in my entire life filled the HTS screen.
The KOSPI index graph plunged straight down the instant trading began.
−50 points.
−80 points.
−100 points…
This wasn't a decline.
It was free fall.
Every stock community, including Paxnet, descended into absolute chaos.
The screams of people who had been singing of rosy futures just yesterday seemed to pierce through the monitor and echo in my ears.
[Title: Is this even a country?!?!]
[Content: My entire fortune is melting… please… someone save me…]
[Title: Is everyone okay? I got forcibly liquidated this morning…]
[Content: Ten years of savings, gone in ten minutes. Haha… I'm crying…]
[Title: Should I cut my losses now? Please, I need advice…]
[Content: Avg price −30%]
I watched their desperation with the detachment of someone watching a movie.
Eighteen years ago, I would have been crying with them—right in the middle of that abyss.
But now, I was a monster that fed on their fear.
And while their screams filled the air, the valuation of my futures account was exploding upward like madness.
The 15 million won I had last night crossed 30 million won in just ten minutes.
And that number kept climbing—hundreds of thousands of won every time I blinked.
I dreamed of sweet days with her—
And at the same time, waited for the end of the world.
Within this grotesque contradiction, I had to survive.
If nothing else—
For her sake.
I smiled coldly.
This was the "power" I had always wanted.
The world's screams were the sweetest symphony of triumph to me.
As time passed, fear gripped the market tighter and tighter.
By 11 a.m., the KOSPI had fallen −150 points.
Then, a warning flashed across the HTS screen.
Sidecar Triggered: KOSPI200 Futures −5% from Base Price
A sidecar.
A braking mechanism designed to prevent excessive volatility.
All numbers on the screen froze—as if by magic.
Five minutes of silence.
During that brief pause, I stared at the ceiling of my empty officetel.
Instead of the frozen HTS, faces passed through my mind.
A young father who had poured in his entire savings, drunk on hope.
An elderly couple who had invested their retirement money.
Over their faces hung despair and terror, like dark shadows.
The valuation of my account had already crossed 50 million won.
Money that a thirty-one-year-old like me could hardly touch even after a lifetime of backbreaking labor.
I was earning it—in just a few hours.
This money was made of someone else's tears.
Unemployment.
Families collapsing.
Lives unraveling.
I was building wealth by consuming their pain.
The world's screams—and my ecstasy.
Between those extremes, I felt both an inexplicable guilt and an irresistible thrill.
"This," I muttered bitterly,
"is the true face of capitalism."
When the five minutes ended and trading resumed, the index plunged even faster.
Like a dump truck with failed brakes, the market hurled itself downward without end.
Then—
My slide phone vibrated briefly in my pocket.
A message from Jiae.
Jagi, did you eat lunch? The news says the stock market is chaos… you're okay, right? I was worried.
The moment I read it, I laughed out loud.
Her pure, warm message pulled me back to reality—from the cold world of numbers.
The guilt and hollowness I had felt moments ago melted away at once.
Right.
I wasn't a monster.
I was just an ordinary man who wanted to protect his person.
This hellish battle was for that very reason—
So she could keep smiling like that, unaware of the storm tearing the world apart.
I had to become her shield.
I replied.
I'm fine, don't worry. Getting your message gave me a burst of strength. Haha. Did you eat well?
Her reply came immediately.
I just ate gimbap at the pharmacy. You make sure to eat something good too! ♡
Our jagi can't live on just gimbap. I'll treat you to something good tonight. What do you want?
Hmm… for some reason I'm craving spicy dak-galbi today! What do you think?
Deal! Then dak-galbi tonight. I'll find a good place. See you later. ♡
I closed the HTS window.
There was no need to look anymore.
Today's war was already over—
And it was my victory.
My sweet romance was only growing stronger—right in the middle of the storm.
3:00 p.m.
The market finally closed on a hellish day.
The KOSPI finished −180 points.
A Black Monday that would be recorded in Korean financial history.
I checked the final balance in my account.
Available Cash: 72,500,000 won
I stared at the number for a long time, unable to speak.
Fifteen million won—
Had become seventy-two and a half million in a single day.
Nearly a fivefold return.
I leaned back deeply into my chair.
All strength drained from my body.
Like a general after a massive war, crushing exhaustion and emptiness washed over me.
"So this is… money."
I muttered blankly, staring at the empty ceiling.
I had made money—but my heart felt strangely hollow.
It was nothing like when I earned 16 million won from Daeyoung Tech.
Back then, it had been pure joy.
Now, that joy was polluted with bitterness and guilt.
Just then—
My slide phone rang loudly.
Caller ID: Lee Jinwoo (Dotori).
After hesitating briefly, I answered.
"Hello?"
"Hey! Park Cheolmin! Are you okay?!"
Jinwoo's panicked voice exploded the moment I picked up.
"Yeah. Why?"
Why?! Did you not see the news?! The market got obliterated today! Are you really okay?!"
"I'm… fine."
"What do you mean fine?! You said you were investing last time! Don't tell me—you lost everything?!"
His voice was full of genuine concern.
I was grateful for it.
And at the same time, bitter.
I couldn't tell him the truth.
"No. After that day, I sold everything and took a break."
"What? Really?! Wow… thank god. Seriously, thank god."
He sounded relieved as if it were his own problem.
"Our company's in chaos. Stock price halved. The manager's been chain-smoking all day, looking like a corpse. Everyone's freaking out, wondering if we're all getting laid off."
I couldn't respond.
His fear—
Was the very source of my wealth.
I would never be able to tell him that truth. Not ever.
"…Anyway, I'm just glad you're safe. I was so worried you'd lost money too."
"Thanks… my friend."
"Don't mention it. Anyway, enjoy your date with Jiae tonight. See you at Boogie Woogie next Saturday."
"Yeah."
After the call ended, I stared at my phone for a long time.
Having to comfort a friend with lies made me feel sick.
But I had to endure it.
This was the fate of someone who had to walk backward through time—alone.
That evening.
I walked to the pharmacy where Jiae worked.
Normally, we'd meet at the subway station nearby—but today, I wanted to escort her myself.
Right on time, I saw her closing the pharmacy.
When I waved, she looked at me with wide, surprised eyes.
"Jagi! How did you get here?"
"I came to pick up our jagi."
"Jagi—let's eat dak-galbi another day. Today, let's go eat something even better."
"Really? I was craving dak-galbi, but as long as I'm eating with you, I'm happy with anything."
I said lines so cheesy my past self would never have imagined, and walked toward her.
She smiled happily and looped her arm through mine.
We headed to the most famous hanwoo restaurant in Sillim.
I no longer glanced nervously at menu prices.
"Auntie, two servings each of your best ribeye and chuck flap tail. And one bottle of soju, please."
Jiae stared at me, eyes wide.
"Jagi… did something happen? You're being unusually generous today."
"Nothing. I'm just in a good mood."
I smiled at her, forcing it gently.
Soon, beautifully marbled beef was placed on the table.
I picked up the tongs and laid the best cut—salchisal—onto the grill.
Ssssss—
The rich aroma rose with the sizzling sound.
Throughout the meal, I tried my best to act normal.
But my head was full of money and the future.
72.5 million won.
What could I do with this?
On the second and third waves of collapse to come, I could multiply this money tens—hundreds—of times.
I was no longer an ordinary thirty-one-year-old man.
I knew the future.
And now, I had the money to live it.
I could become a god.
"Jagi."
Jiae's voice pulled me back.
"Why are you zoning out like that? Did something bad happen today? The news said the stock market went crazy… you're okay, right?"
She looked at me with concern.
Seeing her pure eyes, I felt a strange guilt.
I was hiding half of my world from her.
Holding her hand, I spoke softly.
"No. It's just… I'm really happy."
"About what?"
"About this. Sitting here with you. All of it."
She smiled shyly.
Looking at that smile, I made a quiet vow.
Just a little longer.
Just endure this hellish fight a little more.
And when everything is over—
Then I'll tell you everything.
I swallowed yet another lie and raised my soju glass.
"To our jagi."
"Tch."
She teased me, but clinked glasses happily.
That night, we talked for a long time.
Her childhood stories.
My boring army stories.
I listened to everything she said.
She laughed at all my jokes.
I deliberately ignored the fact that this ordinary happiness was blooming atop countless screams.
At least for this moment—
I just wanted to be her lover.