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Translator: penny
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Preparation
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Shin Seo-yeon had been extorting me for how long now?
"You just won't cough it up, will you? Hey, Dickhead. Lost your balls or what?"
Shin Seo-yeon sauntered over and slapped my cheek lightly. As the slaps landed, old memories flooded back.
-Lend me some money.
I couldn't pinpoint when it started, but I remembered the serious shakedowns kicking off after we both entered college.
-Money...? You borrowed some last time too. I still haven't gotten that back.
-Ah, fuck. What's with the nitpicking between friends? We're not strangers—we went to the same elementary, middle, and high school. Can't you wait a bit? I'm not saying I won't pay it back.
-Still...
-Man, you're a disappointment. Being such a cheapskate?
-...
At first, I trusted her because we were friends.
We'd been pretty close back in elementary school.
I guess I was deluding myself, thinking her old innocent side from childhood was still there somewhere.
That once she grew up, she'd go back to being that pure kid.
'Yeah, what a massive delusion.'
Nothing like that. Over ten years, I'd seen plenty of ugly sides.
That was the conclusion I'd reached.
Once someone's corrupted, they don't change.
-Hey, you really won't lend it to your friend? I need it bad. No one else to help me but you.
-Sigh. This is the last time.
The money she borrowed never came back, and once the debt topped four hundred thousand won, she started openly shaking me down.
Thud.
"Fuck, don't you get what I'm saying?!"
She'd kick my shin like this, use violence, and take the money like it was her due.
"..."
Honestly, it was baffling how this girl—a full head shorter than me—could act so wild.
One punch to the face would end it, given our size difference.
But this is a country of laws.
Such undignified acts come with harsh punishment.
Especially if you hit a woman—the penalty skyrockets.
And she had another reason to be so cocky.
"There you are, Seo-yeon. What's up?"
"Oh, Oppa! You're here?"
Shin Seo-yeon, who had been raging in front of me and trying to squeeze out cash, spun around at the man's voice with a bright smile like nothing happened.
Thud. Thud.
Three guys approached—dyed hair, tattoos, cigarettes dangling. Textbook delinquent college punks.
'Oh yeah, these assholes too.'
My university was a four-year school in the capital area, the kind where population decline and low birth rates meant even idiots could get in with a bribe.
Not weird at all to see a few thugs strutting the campus.
Guys reeking of their delinquent school days spotted me and smirked.
"Hanging with your high school buddy again?"
"Yeah. Had some time to kill. But Oppa, what brings you here at this hour?"
"Couldn't stay away from my Seo-yeon. But things look different today. Saw something off on the way in—want me to handle it?"
Shin Seo-yeon turned to me with a mocking grin. The message on her face was clear.
「Hand over the money now?」
I hesitated for a second.
Should I beat these fuckers down?
「What're you waiting for?」
The three seniors stared, clenching and unclenching their fists, urging me to pay up.
'Haa.'
Honestly, fresh off barely surviving a life-or-death brawl with a dragon the size of Yongsan district minutes ago, those glaring eyes looked downright pathetic.
I could half-kill them in five minutes, but I didn't have time for this.
'No point getting tangled in a fight, dragged to the cops. Waste of time. Ignore them.'
I shoved my hand in my pocket, and Shin Seo-yeon smirked, looking pleased.
"Should've done it sooner. Huh? No need for anyone to lose face."
"..."
"What? Pissed off? Mad 'cause you feel like an ATM? Then get strong enough not to be ignored."
Right then, Shin Seo-yeon was nothing more or less than trash.
But when the world flipped, she changed.
She gained insane powers, became an S-Rank mage everyone admired, the woman every guy dreamed of bedding.
My position? Unchanged.
I'd never once surpassed her.
"Got it? Don't wanna be ignored? Make it big, succeed. Then I'll treat you like a person. Heh."
But this life would be different.
"Why's it taking so long to pull out the cash? Hurry up!"
"Whatever."
"Huh?"
I spun on my heel and walked off.
"H-Hey?"
Hand in pocket? Not for money. Just checking something.
Back in the day, I'd always keep my hands in my windbreaker or jacket pockets.
Even when it wasn't cold.
For style? Nah. Looking back, it was just stupid.
'Feels familiar but off. Hands should stay out, ready to move. Guess the regression with memories intact is real.'
Just had to confirm.
If I'd truly regressed, how different was I from past me? Feel that gap.
Money? Why give her shit?
"Hey, Dickhead! Wanna die?! Get back here! You trying to get fucked up?!"
To cowards without the guts to follow into a crowd, I quietly flipped the bird.
Yeah, fuck off.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Alright, what now?
"Gotta prep for the Tutorial, so I need money."
Thanks to Shin Seo-yeon's money obsession, my next step was clear.
Problem: how to get it.
I checked my bank balance on my smartphone.
[Balance: 124,238 won]
"Ah, yeah, I was totally broke back then."
Not nearly enough.
"Any cash lying around the house maybe?"
I racked my brain and headed home, ransacking every corner. Nope, nothing.
'Figured as much.'
The empty house. Furniture and essentials, but no people—just loneliness hanging in the air.
Parents were long gone.
Mom died giving birth to me. Dad raised me alone, fought cancer for years...
Desperate for cash, I'd scoured the place early on, grabbing every bill in sight.
Like an emptied treasure chest—no loot now either.
"No money."
But something worth money was there.
I looked up. Dad's sole inheritance: the apartment. Still collateralized from unpaid debts when he bought it, but it'd do.
"Always hated and loved this place. Might as well."
World's ending anyway, gotta leave. So cash it out rationally.
'Selling's out. Only three days left—world ends before payment clears.'
One option left.
"Go all-in on loans."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Already had loans—could I get more?
"Oh?"
Yep. Bank loosened real estate rules, upped collateral ratio. Nearly two hundred million won approved.
'Can I squeeze more?'
Two hundred million could cover prep basics.
But world ends the day after tomorrow.
Money gone, debts gone.
'Whoa, then why not go bigger?'
After ten years of trials risking my life, fear took a backseat to excitement at causing chaos.
Thrill at doing what I'd never dared.
"Welcome! What brings our young customer today?"
📰 Dead-End Capital
I'd gone to a loan shark.
"Here to borrow. Against collateral."
Would they bite?
"Call."
They appraised the apartment and offered 250 million won, no hesitation.
'Okay, totals 450 million in hand.'
Enough for anything.
I eyed the contract.
Loan: 250 million won
Interest: 14% annual
"..."
"Haha, rates are a bit steep."
Rates were gangster-level, but who cares? Earth's gone tomorrow.
Unaware sharks grinned like they'd hooked a sucker, spouting bullshit.
"Gotta be this high to lend. Shop around—four percent higher elsewhere."
"..."
"Don't like it? No skin off us. We cut it low already."
"I'll do it."
Instant sleazy grin.
'Ugh, control your face.'
So blatant with the sucker treatment. Hard to sit still. Since I'm at it, play the mark harder?
"Can you up the rate and loan more?"
"Hmm. That's tricky..."
"Please. Got a situation. Pay back in a month or two."
"...Sigh. Normally no, but you seem desperate."
Jackpot. They loaned more at 18% interest, thrilled.
'Smiling like they'll repossess organs too.'
Whatever. Few hours left to see them anyway.
"Thank you."
"Nah, we thank you, sir."
Not my imagination—hearing "sucker."
"Oh! Don't even think of running with it. You know what I mean?"
Nod.
Added 100 million. Now 550 million rolling in my account.
"Wow, how to blow this in a day?"
Rich know how to spend; us commoners? Clueless.
So I toured Seoul, buying top-tier essentials.
'Don't know spending? Go all-out on gear!'
Selection Process blocks electronics, but worn/carried items go through.
Knowing the future, I'd exploit that.
"Phew, shopping done?"
Post-spree: 350 million left.
Still plenty. Now what?
"Grab something tasty."
World's ending—enjoy it all.
Searched spots, headed to a five-star hotel buffet.
"Welcome!"
Wanted fine dining, but those need months-ahead bookings.
Even this was nearly full, but weekday luck saved me.
'Ugh, trials and shit start tomorrow. Today, eat and chill hard.'
Munching away with that mindset...
"Huh?"
"Dickhead?"
Bam—Shin Seo-yeon.
Ah, fucking great, her again.
"Who's that? Friend?"
"Yeah, school friend."
She smiled, answering the mid-40s guy beside her.
Not her dad, per memory.
'Shin Seo-yeon's all about show and spendthrift.'
Would do anything for cash.
Squeeze alumni with violence, date old guys behind boyfriends' backs, flirt hard.
'And she's still a virgin at this point? Impressive.'
How many men fleeced? Just awe.
"Hello."
"Yes, nice to meet you."
I greeted today's mark snagged by her.
Liked my manners? Or first time with her? He smiled warmly.
Ah, that smile makes it sadder.
"Gotta talk to my friend. Excuse us."
"Sure, sure. Take your time."
She yanked my arm, dragging me to a corner.
Prim and giggling in public, her face turned sinister as crowds thinned.
"Dickhead. Why're you here?"
At the dim bathroom hallway corner, she stopped me, grinning like a lioness eyeing prey.
"Fuck, this pisses me off. No money for me, but cash for buffets? Huh?"
Tap tap. Her shoe to my shin—artistic as ever.
I stared straight at her.
"Tired of the money, money, money crap?"
"Ha, lecturing me? Little Min-jun's grown up. Been too soft lately. Catch you today and reset that brain..."
"Want cash that bad? I can give big."
Her thug vibe faltered, brows furrowing.
"What?"
"Can give plenty if you want. How much? Fifty mil?"
"Am I a kid? New Year's cash starts at fifty grand now. Quit yapping..."
"Not fifty grand. Fifty million won."
"Bullshit."
She grabbed my collar, glaring. I pulled my phone, showed the balance.
[Balance: 350,529,371 won]
"Still talking shit?"
"Uh...?"
Time froze for Shin Seo-yeon. Her fingers, rigid, caressed my screen.
Tap. Tap.
Scrolling up, down, verifying the balance over and over.
"H-How... why do you have so much money...?"
Our Seo-yeon was shocked.
Makes sense—fifty mil is huge for a poor college kid.
"So, want the fifty million or not?"
Staring blankly at the screen, she blinked prettily up at me.