Chapter 39

Chapter 39

After coming home, I sat down next to my older sister, who was doing a hydrating mask and sipping on a can of beer, and we watched the news together.

The news was covering the actions of a notorious random murderer that had been making headlines during this time.

My sister clicked her tongue at the news and said, “Who’s going to go out alone after hearing this?”

The anchor recommended actively reporting any suspicious individuals to the police before transitioning to the next story. This one was about a stalker fan who carried out a sulfuric acid attack on the idol she obsessed over.

The stalker fan had started to fantasize that she was in a relationship with the idol. However, the idol treated her like just another fan, which enraged the stalker and led her to carry out the acid attack.

In the meantime, the manager threw himself to block the attack, and while the idol was unharmed, the manager had to be taken to the hospital.

My sister took a sip of her beer and, as if uninterested, casually asked me, “You don’t have to go through stuff like that, do you?”

“…”

When I fell silent, my sister tore her gaze from the television, raised her voice slightly, and said, “You went in with the title of team leader, right? So you just get to boss people around in the office?”

“Even with the title of team leader, I still need to hit the field. There aren’t enough people right now…”

Even if I had the title of a manager, I had already been working in the field in the previous installment.

“No way! Are you saying you’re going to be doing such dangerous work?”

I was startled and had to calm my sister down.

“No, I just meant it in theory! I wouldn’t actually experience anything that dangerous!”

Only after my sister heard my promise to avoid fieldwork as much as possible and my declaration to prioritize my safety did she finally relax.

But with her calming down, I started feeling anxious.

While trying to argue my case, countless catastrophic scenarios started popping up in my head.

I recalled all the potential incidents that could occur in the future. The entertainment industry, known as the vortex of desires, was filled with psychos.

People like that sulfuric acid attacker might not appear in the news, but they popped up one by one whenever they got bored.
While acid attacks didn’t happen often, I had definitely faced threats like cutter knives before.

Even in negative scenarios, there were countless people trying to engrave themselves into a star’s life.

Once you get booked for an overseas schedule, you’d really experience just how great domestic security is.

In the last installment, I had a scar on my forehead from trying to fend off an attacking fan.

That’s right. In this entertainment lifestyle, accidents could happen anytime.

How reassuring would it be to have the ‘Senses of the Swordmaster’ in such a crisis?

I pressed the quest reward button to check the information on ‘Senses of the Swordmaster’ again.

[Temporarily borrowing the senses of the greatest swordsman in human history.]

They didn’t mention who the swordmaster was by name, but being called the greatest in human history felt incredibly reassuring.

If I borrowed that guy’s senses, I could probably take out two or three acid attackers without breaking a sweat.

It would be like having insurance in this unpredictable entertainment industry. The more I thought about it, the more enticing it became.

‘How about I pay you a bounty to just go beat him up? If you get hit, you might learn your lesson.’

Suddenly, Cheon Aram’s words came to mind.

For some reason, that thought seemed quite plausible.

Ah… I do have some money from Grandfather Gyeoul, so I can afford a bounty.
I have money from Grandfather Gyeoul, so I can pay the bribe.

But if there’s no agreement, won’t I just end up in the slammer?

Of course, messing up my relationship with Gaeul is a given.

I sprawled on the sofa, deep in intense contemplation.

Then, I caught sight of the rubber mallet wedged between the shelf and the wall.

Looking at that mallet, I thought about it. And after checking the quest details, I was sure of it.

All I had to do was give someone a good whack with it.

*

The next day, after finishing my schedule, I stood in front of Gaeul’s house.

Here was the plan.

I would propose a wager to Gaeul’s Father.

If he beat me in rock-paper-scissors, he would immediately hand over 3 million won, but if he lost, he would have to take a beating with this mallet.

Considering he seemed interested in gambling, I figured he’d accept the offer.

With just a bit of pain from a mallet, why would he refuse free money?

However, there was a trap in this proposal.

Using the ‘Memory of Possibilities’ reward I received last time, I planned to know in advance what Gaeul’s father would choose or if he would sue.

How could someone who knows the future lose? Of course, Gaeul’s father would get beaten consecutively until the quest was recognized as complete.

Seeing him exposed to the harsh mallet treatment, both Gaeul and Gahyeon would rush in to stop me.

The last time we faced off about the contract felt like just a dream, and now the family would unite against an external threat.

At that moment, it would be revealed that they picked up the love rod with tears in their eyes for the sake of family peace.

Everyone, moved by the twist, would give a standing ovation.

In the background, a hopeful song would play as we join hands and dash towards the gambling therapy center in a circle.

…Right. Actually, it’s just nonsense.

But if it comes with a reward, I might show some intent against gambling.

Still, I couldn’t escape looking like a madman… or could I avoid criminal charges?

Every gain in this world comes with a loss. I steeled my resolve.

What decision had I made before regressing?

Wasn’t my determination to follow whatever the quest told me, whether it barked like a dog or bit like a beast?

It was time to recall my original intention.

Whether I looked like a psycho or an egotistical jerk, I had to try this quest despite the risk of being sued.

After all, that was the way to success.

Denying my faith in the system would mean crumbling at the core.

Last time, I ignored the quest and got blindsided, so this time I needed to believe.

Still, there was a backup plan.

I opened the reward window to check. The ‘Memory of Possibilities’ I gained by recruiting Gaeul was there.

Using this, I could see the most likely future, so I’d know what would happen after I hit Gaeul’s father with the mallet. If I truly ended up sued or screwed, I could just pretend it never happened and head home. The risk would vanish.

Knowing what Gaeul’s father would throw in rock-paper-scissors was just a bonus.

[Do you want to use ‘Memory of Possibilities’?]

“Alright, let’s use it now. Use!”

Nothing happened.

“…? ”

Thinking it might not have registered, I kept talking, but the situation didn’t change.
I kept talking because I wanted to, but of course, the situation didn’t change.

“What the heck is this? An error?”

At that moment, as if to inform me that it wasn’t an error, a message appeared before my eyes.

[The memory of possibility has been used on the appropriate subject.]

I panicked and waved my hand at the message. Nothing changed.

“…who is the appropriate subject?”

That’s my reward, isn’t it? Why use it on someone else?

Then, I heard a shattering sound and a scream coming from Gaeul’s house.

Without a moment’s thought, I reflexively dashed towards Gaeul’s home.

*

Gaeul had just finished a grueling training session.

Training was harder and more challenging than any labor she had done during her part-time job, yet she didn’t feel any pain at all.

After all, this was what Gaeul wanted to do.

Her recent life was a series of sweet events, like a dream.

Being able to chase her dreams while not giving up on Gahyeon’s well-being was a reality Gaeul had never dared to imagine.

It felt so sweet that she thought it could never happen.

However, the environment surrounding Gaeul changed in an instant.

It was as if she was now able to stroll towards a ball, like a Cinderella under a spell.

Gaeul savored that sweet reality while riding the subway filled with commuting workers. And she thought of the man who had created this dreamlike situation.

He treated Gaeul like a little child.

Like a clueless kid who needed to be cared for in every detail.

Gaeul was honestly pleased with that treatment.

It was the first time in her life she had been spoiled like that.

With Taeyang, she felt a sense of security she had never experienced with anyone else.

…But she felt a bit of emptiness as well.

Gaeul carefully cherished that feeling as a treasure in her heart.

After getting off the subway and walking home, she entered her house.

Thinking of her father, who hadn’t shown his face often lately, she greeted Gahyeon.

“Gahyeon! I’m back!”

But what caught Gaeul’s eye was not her younger brother Yoo Gahyeon, but her father, Yoo Dae-cheol.

Gaeul was a little surprised but greeted him calmly.

“Father, welcome back.”

However, the atmosphere felt strange.

Her father’s eyes were bloodshot, and his face was flushed.

A strong scent of alcohol wafted from him.

He must have been thoroughly drunk.

“…Ugh.”

As Gaeul was observing her father’s complexion, a sudden groan startled her, and she turned towards the kitchen.

There was Gahyeon, clutching his stomach and collapsed, as if in pain.

“Gahyeon!”

Gahyeon seemed to be struggling to breathe and was sweating profusely.

Gaeul gently pushed Gahyeon’s trembling hand away to check his abdomen.

There were dark bruises.

The culprit was obvious.

Gaeul glared at her father like a mother bird facing a snake and said,

“Why would you do such a thing?!”

“…I lost some money and, annoyingly, some nonsense was blabbering. Didn’t even recognize his own father.”

It seemed her father had gotten back into gambling.

Gaeul had expected this.

Her father was a notorious gambling addict.

She never thought he would quit.

Because of that, they had even agreed to limit his gambling to just 5 million won.
So, in a desperate attempt, they promised to gamble only 5 million won as a backup plan.

“Losing money is fine, but first, let’s take Gahyeon to the hospital…”

“Losing money is totally not fine, sis.”

“Gahyeon, just stay quiet while I talk!”

Gaeul’s Father was staring at Gahyeon with bloodshot eyes. Gaeul found that frightening. She just wanted to get Gahyeon to the hospital.

Unaware of Gaeul’s feelings, Gahyeon spoke up.

“Sis, the contract money you received? Dad lost all of it yesterday.”

“…Huh?”

Gaeul asked, hoping it wasn’t true.

“You mean the 5 million won, right?”

“No, all the money we got.”

She felt like she couldn’t breathe for a moment.

“I asked for some money to buy dinner, and he said there wasn’t any.”

“That can’t be Dad, right? Gahyeon, you must be misunderstanding!”

“…”

Gaeul’s Father didn’t respond and gulped down a shot of soju.

That was his usual attitude when faced with a problem, Gaeul thought. She knew the answer from his demeanor. He had indeed lost all the money gambling.

“…What kind of money was that?”

“…”

“That was the money Gahyeon needed for her art and college!”

With teary eyes, Gaeul shot a glare at her father, who seemed annoyed and said, “Gaeul, I was trying my best. I’m the one going through the hardest time right now. So don’t push me too much.”

In that moment, something inside Gaeul snapped.

“Don’t tell me not to push? You’re the one going through the hardest time?”

Gaeul always smiled and hid her feelings. She tried to laugh like the pain didn’t matter.

“I have it tougher!”

But inside, she was screaming.

“I’m working at least three part-time jobs every day! Coming back and cleaning, doing laundry, and cooking! Rejecting every invitation from my middle school friends until they just stopped contacting me! Watching high school kids study at cafes made me envious! Giving up pretty clothes! Giving up cute dolls! Giving up dance club activities! Giving up karaoke! I’ve given up all the happiness I ever had!”

Yet, she endured it. If Gaeul didn’t hold on, if she didn’t stay silent, this fragile family would fall apart.

But the pent-up rage burst out with her father’s careless words.

“What exactly have you given up, Dad?”

She shouted out her anger like it was a scream.

At that, Gaeul’s Father replied with wild fury.

“What have I given up? Are you ignoring me just like Gahyeon?”

Things escalated suddenly. Gaeul’s Father sprang up and started choking Gaeul.

“Gahk… Dad… help….”

“How much have I sacrificed for you! If it weren’t for you two…. If it weren’t for you two!”

She couldn’t breathe. Pressed against the narrow room’s wall, Gaeul felt her consciousness fading.

Amid her fading awareness, a message flickered in Gaeul’s eyes.

[You have been selected as a suitable target. Memories of potential are activated.]

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