Chapter 2:
When did Shin Seo-yeon start extorting money from me?
“This guy won’t hand it over till the end. Hey, you bastard. Have you lost all your senses?”
Shin Seo-yeon came over and slapped my cheeks. As I was getting hit, old memories came to mind.
-Lend me some money.
I don’t know when the incident started, but I remember being extorted for money in earnest after entering university.
-Money…? You borrowed from me last time too. I haven’t gotten that back yet. -Ah, shit. What’s with friends nitpicking over such things? We’re not complete strangers, and we went to the same elementary, middle, and high schools, so can’t I pay back a little late? It’s not like I’m saying I won’t pay back. -Still, a bit… -Wow, you’re disappointing. Are you really going to be so petty? -……
At first, I trusted her because we were friends after all. We were quite close in elementary school.
I think I was probably recalling her old self, under the delusion that the kind side she showed as a child still remained. That when she matured later, she would return to being that innocent child from back then.
‘Yeah, what a great delusion that was.’
There was no such thing, and for 10 years I saw plenty of unsightly behavior. That’s how I came to this conclusion. Once a person has fallen, they don’t change.
-Hey, are you really not going to lend money to a friend? I’m really in urgent need. You’re the only one who can help me. -Sigh. This is the last time.
The money lent that way never came back, and from the moment the debt exceeded roughly 400,000 won, she started openly extorting money.
Thud.
“Fuck, doesn’t what I’m saying sound right to you!”
Like this, she would kick my shins and use violence, then take money as if it was natural.
“……”
Honestly, it might be hard to understand why someone a head shorter than me would act so wildly. She’s small enough that if I just threw a punch at her face, it would be over.
But our country is a nation of laws. Such undignified behavior comes with harsh punishment. Especially if you throw a punch at a woman, you can witness the punishment level jumping drastically. Moreover, there was another reason she was so confident.
“Our Seo-yeon was here. What are you doing?”
“Oh, oppa, you came?”
Shin Seo-yeon, who had been throwing a tantrum in front of me, determined to extort money somehow, suddenly turned toward that direction with a bright smile as if nothing had happened when she heard a man’s voice.
Step. Step.
Three men walked over, and with their dyed hair, tattoos, and cigarettes, they were perfect specimens of delinquent college students.
‘Ah, come to think of it, these guys were here too.’
The university I attend is a 4-year institution in the metropolitan area, which, hit by the combo of population decline and low birth rates, had become a school where even thugs could enter if they paid under the table. It wouldn’t be strange at all for several delinquents who didn’t fit the school atmosphere to walk around campus. The guys who clearly showed signs of having caused trouble during their school days looked at me and let out mocking laughter.
“Were you hanging out with your high school friend again?”
“Yeah. I had some free time. But oppa, what brings you here at this hour?”
“I came because I missed our Seo-yeon. But today seems different from usual. I noticed something seemed wrong on my way here, should I help?”
Then Shin Seo-yeon turned to look at me and laughed. The meaning in her expression was clear.
「Take out the money now?」
I hesitated for a moment. Whether to beat up these bastards or not.
「What are you doing?」
When I looked at the three seniors, they clenched and unclenched their fists, asking why I wasn’t taking out money.
‘Sigh.’
Honestly, maybe because I had just come from fighting desperately with a dragon as massive as Yongsan, those glaring eyes seemed incredibly pathetic. I felt like I could half-kill them in 5 minutes, but I didn’t have time to be doing this.
‘If I get caught up in a violence incident and dragged to the police station, it’ll be a waste of time. Let’s not deal with them.’
When I put my hand in my pocket, Shin Seo-yeon grinned with a satisfied expression.
“You should have given it earlier. Huh? Then I wouldn’t have had to get worked up either.”
“……”
“What? Are you angry? Do you feel bad like you’ve become an ATM? Then develop enough ability so you won’t be ignored.”
The Shin Seo-yeon of this time is nothing more or less than a thug. But when the world turns upside down, she changes.
She gains incredible abilities and becomes an S-class mage. Someone everyone looks up to, someone every man dreams of wanting at least once. However, my position remains unchanged. I never once surpassed her.
“Got it? If you don’t want to be ignored, succeed and do well. Then I’ll treat you like a human too. Hehe.”
But this life will be a little different.
“But why is it taking so long to take out money? Hurry up and take it out.”
“What are you talking about.”
“Huh?”
I quickly turned around and started walking.
“Huh, huh?”
The reason I put my hand in my pocket wasn’t to take out money, but because there was something I wanted to check. The old me used to walk around with my hands in my windbreaker or jacket pockets. I did that even when it wasn’t cold. Did I do it for style? Hardly. Thinking about it now, why I did that is just laughable.
‘Something feels familiar but uncomfortable. As expected, it’s right to keep my hands outside so they can move anytime. It seems I really have regressed with my memories intact.’
I just wanted to confirm. Whether I had truly regressed, how much I had changed from my past self, I just wanted to know that sense of disparity. Money? Why would I give such a thing?
“Hey, you bastard! Do you want to die?! Come here right now! Do you really want to die!”
To those bastards who didn’t have the courage to follow me to a crowded place to extort money, I quietly gave them the middle finger. Yeah, fuck off.
Now then, what should I do?
“Come to think of it, I need money to prepare for the tutorial.”
Thanks to Shin Seo-yeon going on about money, what I needed to do immediately came to mind. The problem is how to get money. I checked my bank account balance on my smartphone.
[Balance: 124,238 won]
“Ah, I was completely broke at this time.”
This is nowhere near enough.
“I wonder if there’s any money lying around at home?”
I returned home while recalling memories and immediately searched every corner of the house. Yeah, nothing came out.
‘Well, that’s natural.’
An empty house. Though furniture and essentials existed, the house with no one in it was filled only with loneliness. My parents had all passed away long ago. My mother when giving birth to me, my father while raising me alone, got cancer and suffered for years while fighting the disease…
Being short on money, I had long ago thoroughly searched the house and used up all the cash I could find. Just as you can’t find treasure in a treasure chest you’ve already looted, the current farming has the same result.
“I have no money.”
But there are things that can become money. When I looked up, I could see the only inheritance my father left behind when he passed away. An apartment. Although it’s still held as collateral because the debt incurred when buying it hasn’t been fully repaid, this should work.
“It was always a love-hate relationship, but this worked out well.”
The world is going to end anyway, and I have to leave this place. Then let’s get money with this apartment and use it rationally.
‘Selling is difficult. With only 3 days left, the world will end faster than receiving payment.’
Then there’s only one method.
“Let’s go for a loan.”
Would I be able to get an additional loan when I already have one?
“Oh?”
I can. The bank offered me nearly 200 million won, saying the collateral ratio became more generous as real estate policies were relaxed.
‘Can I borrow more additionally?’
Actually, 200 million won is enough money to somehow complete the preparations. But the world ends the day after tomorrow. Money will disappear and debt will disappear.
‘Wow, then wouldn’t it be okay to make things even bigger?’
Maybe because I had already gone through countless trials and lived risking my life for 10 years, I felt more anticipation than fear about causing trouble. I even felt thrilled about doing something I had never done in my life.
“Welcome. What brings our young customer here today?”
[Life’s Ruined Capital]
The place I went to was a loan company.
“I came to borrow money. With collateral.”
Will it work or not?
“Deal.”
The other party, who readily agreed, appraised the apartment and proposed lending 250 million won.
‘Hmm. Then I’ll have 450 million won in hand?’
An amount that can do anything. I looked at the contract.
Loan amount: 250 million won Interest: 14% annually
“……”
“Haha, the interest rate is a bit expensive though.”
The interest rate is fucking ridiculous, but what does it matter? The Earth will disappear by tomorrow. But the loan company, not knowing this fact, poured out honeyed words with faces that looked like they had caught a complete sucker.
“We have to do at least this much to be able to lend to you. Ask around elsewhere. The interest is 4% higher than this.”
“……”
“Well, if you don’t want to do it, forget it. We’re all thinking and setting it low for you.”
“I’ll do it.”
Then immediately a beaming face.
‘Ugh. Manage your expressions a bit.’
Being treated so openly like a sucker, well, it’s hard to just stay still. Since I’m doing this anyway, should I act even more like a sucker?
“Can I borrow more by raising the interest rate?”
“Hmm. That’s a bit difficult…”
“Please. I have circumstances. I’ll pay it back within a month or two.”
“…Sigh. Originally it’s not allowed, but well, since the customer’s situation seems urgent, it can’t be helped.”
Great, then they lend me more. They’re absolutely delighted while raising the interest to 18%.
‘What a smile that would sell organs after putting someone in debt.’
Well, I won’t see these people for more than a few hours anyway.
“Thank you.”
“Oh, we’re the ones who are grateful, customer.”
It’s not my imagination that it sounds like “sucker.”
“Ah! There probably won’t be such a case, but it’s better not to think about running away with the money. You know what I mean?”
Nod.
Like that, I borrowed an additional 100 million won, and 550 million won, a huge sum, ended up rolling around in my account.
“Wow, how do I spend all this money in one day?”
Only people who are used to spending money know how to spend it; a common person like me doesn’t know how to spend it even if told to. So for now, I went around Seoul and bought the best of the necessary items.
‘Since I don’t know how to spend money, let’s get serious about equipment!’
Electronic devices won’t work when taken to the selection process, but you can take what you’re wearing and carrying. Knowing the future, I plan to use tricks in that area.
“Phew, is shopping over with this?”
After buying everything, 350 million won remained in my account. There’s still a lot left. What should I do now?
“Should I eat something delicious?”
A world that will disappear anyway, let’s enjoy what we can enjoy to the fullest. So I looked around for where to go and immediately headed to a 5-star hotel buffet.
“Welcome!”
I wanted to enjoy fine dining if possible, but such places require reservations months in advance. Even though it was just a buffet, this place was almost fully booked too, but luckily I could use it since it was a weekday with few people.
‘Alright, from tomorrow I’ll be busy again with trials and whatnot, but for today at least, let me eat well and enjoy myself.’
It was while I was eating with that mindset.
“Huh?”
“You bastard?”
I ran into Shin Seo-yeon. Ah, unluckily meeting her again here.
“Who is it? A friend?”
“Ah, yes. A school friend.”
Shin Seo-yeon smiled and answered the middle-aged man in his forties standing next to her. For reference, if my memory is correct, that was definitely not her father.
‘Shin Seo-yeon is into vanity and heavy spending.’
So she’s someone who would do anything for money. To the extent of squeezing a classmate with violence, dating older men behind her boyfriend’s back, and even acting cute.
‘It’s amazing that she’s still a virgin despite all this.’
Just how many men has she milked? I’m simply amazed.
“Hello.”
“Yes, nice to meet you.”
I greeted today’s sucker caught by Shin Seo-yeon. Whether my politeness pleased him or whether today was his first time meeting Shin Seo-yeon, the man smiled warmly. Ah, seeing that warm smile makes me feel even more sorry.
“Wait, I have something to talk about with that friend. Excuse me.”
“Yeah, yeah. Take your time.”
Then Shin Seo-yeon grabbed my arm and dragged me to a corner. She who had been pretending to be demure and laughing sweetly in front of people revealed her true sinister and evil mask as the crowd thinned.
“You bastard. Why are you here?”
And finally, when we reached a secluded corner in the passage leading to the bathroom, Shin Seo-yeon stopped me and revealed a wicked smile like a lioness facing prey.
“Fuck, this is annoying. You don’t have money to give me but you have money to go to places like this? “Huh?”
Tap tap. Her skill at kicking shins with her shoe was always artistic. I looked straight at her and asked.
“Aren’t you tired of going on about money all the time?”
“Ha, are you lecturing me now? Our Kang Min-jun has really grown up. I guess I’ve been too easy on you lately. Today I’ll grab you and completely reset your brain…”
“If you want money that badly, I can give you a really large amount.”
Shin Seo-yeon, who had been creating a menacing atmosphere, furrowed her brow sharply.
“What?”
“I said I can give you a lot of money if you want. How much do you want? Should I give you 5,000?”
“Am I an elementary schooler? These days even New Year’s money starts at 50,000 won. Don’t run your mouth…”
“I said 50 million won, not 5,000 won.”
“Bullshit.”
Then she grabbed my collar and glared at me, so I operated my smartphone and showed her my account balance.
[Balance: 350,529,371 won]
“Does this still look like I’m running my mouth?”
“Uh…?”
For a moment, Shin Seo-yeon’s time stopped. Her fingers, frozen stiff, fondled my smartphone.
Tap. Tap.
Tapping as if taking a screenshot. She scrolled down and up, checking the balance how many times.
“Huh, huh? Why do you have so much money…?”
Our Seo-yeon seems very surprised. Well, 5,000 is big money for a college student from a poor family.
“So do you want to receive 50 million won or not?”
Shin Seo-yeon, who had been completely absorbed in the smartphone screen, looked at me blankly and blinked her eyes prettily.
