CBO Ch 1

It was late afternoon. A gentle breeze coming through the gap in the window occasionally ruffled the beige curtains. The bookshelves that filled the wall were packed with books, and the diverse genres of each book, such as humanities, economics, and philosophy, indicated the owner’s wide range of knowledge. Inside the room, a man and a young man sat facing each other, surrounded by tall bookshelves like a fortress. The composition of them sitting across from each other with a single desk between them was reminiscent of an interrogation room. The man, sitting as straight as a chiropractic textbook, was reading a book to the young man across from him. The young man in a school uniform looked young, but the tension on his face was no less than that of a lottery ticket buyer. A combative atmosphere hung between the two.

[…The moment I met his eyes, I couldn’t move an inch.]

The voice, neither high nor low, was soft and calm. The tone was comfortable yet not drawn out, the pronunciation was fluent, and the solid vocalization was impeccable.

[Dangerous eyes, a sharp jawline that seemed as if it could cut with a knife, skin as white as the first snow, lips as red as bursting cherries. His perfect appearance from head to toe reminded me of a transparent dragon, a creature of fantasy.]

The breathing, maintaining a constant pace, was stable, and the rhythm, giving appropriate emphasis to each syllable, was dramatic yet composed. The engrossed listener gradually leaned forward.

[The most popular guy at Hwangje High… That guy, ranked 0th, blew a line of cigarette smoke into the air and raised his head. And then he beckoned me.]

The young man watched the reader with an exciting expression, as if watching a thrilling blockbuster. The speaker, with a serious face, explained that the protagonist in the book, although a cold-blooded person with no sense of empathy, had a high possibility of being warm to his girlfriend. He, who had been reciting without hesitation as if spinning thread from a spinning wheel, eventually stopped at one passage.

“Chuckle… I’m intrigued.”

The lips uttering the sentence twitched for a moment. He clenched his fists and resolutely opened his mouth.

“Be mine.”

“Oh, my god!”

The student collapsed onto the desk, making a pig-like squeal. As his clenched fists repeatedly pounded the desk, books and writing utensils vibrated as if an earthquake had occurred. The student, whose back was heaving, showed no sign of getting up even after a long time, and Jaewon, who had been watching him with cold eyes, slammed the book shut.

“That’s all for today.”

“What? Are you crazy! How can you stop there?”

Along with the vehement protest, a spray of saliva flew. Jaewon held the book upright, perfectly blocking the bombardment, and added impassively, “How long has it been since you got this book! We’ve only read a few pages!”

“Write a book report on <The Vegetarian> by next time.”

He quickly began to gather his belongings. The student’s pupils wavered pitifully as he looked at the teacher who never forgot his duty, no matter the situation. The moment Jaewon put <My Heart Calls Out Your Name> into his bag, the student desperately grabbed the corner of the book.

“Aren’t you curious about what happens next, teacher?”

“I haven’t been for 1185 days.”

“Can’t you just read one more line?”

“No.”

Having flatly refused, Jaewon belatedly remembered his transportation card balance and magnanimously offered a compromise.

“An additional five thousand won.”

“A moderate amount of curiosity is good for your health.”

‘I thought he’d fall for it today.’

At the Udyr-level change of heart, Jaewon clicked his tongue and snatched the book. And he tied his shoelaces tighter than usual. This month, which had 31 days, he would have to walk home for two more days.

“My dad said he has something to tell you and wants you to stop by the hospital.”

“I’m busy today. Your dad needs to make better use of modern technology.”

“He said he has something to give you.”

“I’ll stop by on the way.”

Jaewon stepped out the door with a brisk walk. He smiled warmly at the student who said goodbye with a face full of regret and got on the elevator. As the doors slid shut, the book, which he hadn’t put in his bag due to the tussle with the student, was reflected in the mirror. Jaewon’s eyes narrowed.

An internet novel plastered with emoticons in every sentence. There were complex reasons why he read aloud from this genre, which could be considered extinct.

Bae Jaewon was a young man who grew up in difficult circumstances under his grandmother because he lost his parents early. Due to his poor family circumstances, there was no part-time job he hadn’t tried since he was young. He started the reading job in high school to accumulate volunteer hours, and then he was formally hired by a wealthy woman because of his good voice. Jaewon, equipped with the trifecta of vocalization, breathing, and pronunciation, led to high parental satisfaction and gained popularity among children with his good voice and appealing appearance. The fact that he recited “The Love Story of a Rank 0 Thug and an Ordinary but Upon Closer Inspection Definitely Pretty Commoner” every week was entirely due to the client’s preference.

Jeong Sujeong, the student with this eccentric hobby, was dyslexic. She, Jaewon’s cousin, was homeschooled and a fan of internet novels. Jeong Sujeong, who claimed to love classic novels, brought an endless supply of emoticon-filled books that had indeed disappeared from the market. Exactly one week after starting the job, Jaewon declared a strike. His uncle suggested a pay raise to him, who complained of hypothermia and numbness in his hands and feet, and his symptoms cleared up completely. After some system maintenance, they arrived at the current arrangement where he reads educational books and requested books alternately.

‘What’s so interesting about reading this kind of stuff?’

Jaewon stared disapprovingly at the book in his hand. It had been four years since he started looking after Jeong Sujeong. He had read countless internet novels during that time, but his doubts about his cousin’s reading taste only grew. If it weren’t for his uncle’s request, he would have escaped this harsh working environment long ago.

His uncle was Jaewon’s only family after he lost his parents. His uncle had helped him a lot until he became independent, and Jaewon, who knew gratitude, planned to repay him diligently.

Checking his watch, it was nearing five o’clock in the afternoon. The stock market closing time had long passed, so it was time to go and do some investment analysis. Although the stock market wasn’t open on weekends, Jaewon tried to stick to his daily routine as much as possible. He was particularly interested in financial investments and was preparing for the Jaram Securities College Student Stock Mock Investment Competition. As a result of his day-and-night dedication, things were going smoothly so far, but there were always variables. Last year’s winner achieved a remarkable 600% return. As long as there were hidden masters out there, he couldn’t let his guard down.

Time was tight to get to the hospital where his uncle was hospitalized. With the added schedule, Jaewon hurried his steps.

His uncle, a self-proclaimed “Extreme Lifestyle” enthusiast, had traveled the world and earned money in all sorts of bizarre ways. This time, going to Australia to hunt kangaroos and coming back hospitalized after being beaten up was considered mild. Most of the things he did were high-risk, but the return on time invested was excellent. Two years ago, he spent half a year catching opilio crab in the Bering Sea and returned triumphantly with 150,000 dollars. However, in Jaewon’s eyes, he was just a man obsessed with not dying.

“Oh… Jae Won, you’re here.”

As he entered the hospital room, a man shaped like a pufferfish waved his hand. His uncle, whose jaw was fractured after being uppercutted by a kangaroo, couldn’t speak properly.

“Where’s Auntie?”

Instead of answering, he made a gesture of smoking. Jaewon put the soy milk he had bought in the refrigerator and sat next to the bed.

“Is your body alright?”

“Yeah. Now they jutht need to let me out of the hopital.”

“Then all that’s left is for you to grow up.”

“Hey, the moment I grow up, I die.”

It sounded a bit strange, but he ignored it. Of course, being so immature was probably why he adopted a child abandoned by his friend and took care of Jaewon, who was left behind by his brother and sister-in-law.

“How’sh Sujeong?”

“She’s always doing well, healthy. Eats well, sleeps well. Especially last time, when I read <Gone with the Wind>, she slept so well that I wanted to disappear.”

“Hahaha.”

Although he honestly confessed his hardship, his uncle just chuckled. Jaewon looked at his smiling face with a troubled expression and sighed briefly.

“What are you working on theshe days?”

“<My Heart>… Wait a minute.”

Jaewon felt his lip muscles contract and took the book out of his bag. His uncle, seeing the title, showed interest, saying it looked interesting.

“What’sh thish?”

Flipping through the book, he pointed out a question on the first page.

This book started in England and grants the wish of the person who receives it as it travels around the world once a year. Now this book has been passed to you and must leave your possession within 4 days. You must send 7 copies, including this one, to people who need good luck. Copies are acceptable. You might think this is superstition, but it’s true. In England, a man named JOHN NASE received this book in 1930. He made a wish and then told his secretary to make copies and send them out. A few days later, he won the lottery and received 2 billion. Someone received this book but forgot that it had to leave his possession within 96 hours. He was soon fired. Later, when he realized this, he sent out 7 copies of the book and got a good job again. President Kennedy of the United States received this book but simply threw it away. As a result, he was assassinated 9 days later. Remember. If you send this book, you will have 7 years of good luck, and if you don’t, you will have 1 year of misfortune. And you must never throw this letter away or scribble on it. 7 copies. The person who receives this book will have good luck. It will be difficult, but think of it as a good thing. Wishing you 7 years of good luck…….

Written on the first page that you see when you open the book was a phrase that was once a craze. It was unique, but in the end, it was just a marketing tactic.

“It shaysh it has to leave within 4 daysh?”

“You believe that? And we haven’t even had this book for a week.”

His uncle, whose ears were like tissue paper, readily believed the absurd superstition. Looking at him, Jaewon understood why people in the Bible kept building golden calves even as they were being swept away by the flood.

“Jushth shay we losht it and read shomething elshe.”

“I don’t want to be chopped up alive by Jeong Sujeong.”

Jaewon recalled the time he had lost the book once, whether intentionally or accidentally. It happened to be out of print, and at that time, Jeong Sujeong was like a berserker burning the candle of life.

“It shaysh you win the lottery if you shend it.”

His uncle’s finger pointed at the page. ‘A few days later, he won the lottery and received 2 billion.’ It was a tempting phrase, but Jaewon did not make the foolish mistake of investing in uncertainty. Even if he bought just one lottery ticket a week, it would cost enough to buy a brand-name chicken in a month.

“Buy one, lottery.”

Still, he didn’t refuse something free. Jaewon politely accepted the ten thousand won his uncle handed him.

“Oh, Uncle, you shaid you had shomething to tell me. That’sh why I came.”

“Nothing.”

He was adept at sweeping things under the rug and feigning ignorance. It wasn’t the first time he had tricked people like this. Jaewon felt a momentary urge to kill.

“Take thish.”

His uncle pulled out an additional fifty thousand won from his wallet. As his eyes met Shin Saimdang’s, his violently shaken mind regained its composure.

“Do you have any further pronouncements?”

“No, you punk.”

“Then I shall take my leave.”

Jaewon stood up and backed away respectfully. Just as he reached for the hospital room door, his uncle shouted from behind him.

“If I win, we shplit it.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Thank you alwaysh, Jae Won.”

“Just get better soon.”

Jaewon grumbled and pushed open the sliding door.

“Jae Won.”

A voice slipped through the closing door. Looking up, he saw his uncle with an unreadable expression. His uncle, who was rarely serious, added in clear pronunciation for some reason.

“Life ish a gamble. You have to bet to know.”

‘What nonsense.’

Jaewon scoffed as he left the convenience store after buying the lottery ticket. Life was a plan. Was there anything that could be achieved without a plan? The genre of the world he lived in wasn’t a shonen manga, but reality.

Jaewon wanted to succeed. A life with limited choices always frustrated him. He read many books because he was told they would show him the way, but only a few were actually helpful. In particular, humanities and philosophy seemed impossible to utilize productively unless he developed a time machine and went to ancient Greece.

The area where Jaewon found the answer was financial investment. The fastest and most dazzling way to achieve results within the boundaries of the law.

Investment.

There is a saying that in a capitalist country, to become rich, you have to either inherit wealth, overcome your genes, or be born an IT genius or a talented businessman. Jaewon realized early on that he didn’t belong to any of these categories and jumped into the stock market. Direct capital gains, high cumulative returns, low costs and fees, excellent liquidity due to high convertibility. There was no reason for him not to be fascinated by stock investment. Of course, there were downsides, such as the amazing magic of bills transforming into pieces of paper, but there were no profits in the world without accompanying risks. Above all, as a member of the working class, born with a shovel instead of a silver spoon, it wasn’t the time to be picky.

There are various investment methods. However, if you examine each one carefully, there was only one well left. Real estate investment was out of the question, and saving was a thing of the past. Considering inflation, interest rates, and taxes, savings deposits were no different from paying a storage fee to the bank to keep your money. He couldn’t hope for a life reversal with bonds. He couldn’t help being born an ant, but Jaewon wanted to live and die as a super ant if possible. For him, stock investment was a ladder to change his social class.

Youth has high collateral value. Jaewon’s ultimate goal was to live a comfortable life in middle age and beyond with the boundless possibilities of his youth. There was nothing unplanned in his life, as he spent every moment drawing a blueprint for his future. Admission to a prestigious university, top of his class, full scholarship, a brilliant record of awards. Jaewon, who had steadily followed the elite course, was on the road to success. These were things he would not have achieved if he had lived his life like a gamble.

Participating in the mock investment competition was also part of the blueprint. The prize money of several million won and the internship opportunities at large corporations were valuable enough to pursue, but above all, Jaewon wanted to test himself. A few years had passed since he entered the world of investment, and it was time to step onto the stage to demonstrate the knowledge and know-how he had accumulated. His total return for the past month was 168%, which could be considered a safe score for winning a prize unless there were any major variables. Although he started in a direction contrary to his investment philosophy by using typical short-term investment methods such as swing and scalping techniques, as long as he reached Rome, it didn’t matter how he got there. In any case, he was sailing smoothly.

With everything proceeding smoothly, Jaewon sighed and shoved his phone into his pocket. He raised his head and looked up at the sky. A distinct yearning flickered across his seemingly indifferent face.

It was encouraging that his skills were being recognized, but it was just a mock competition after all. Watching the mock investment funds grow day by day, he couldn’t help but fall into thought.

‘I wish I had 1 billion won fall from the sky.’

The most regrettable thing at this moment was the lack of seed money. The market was so unpredictable with so many variables and fluctuations, but there was definitely a shortcut. The biggest downfall of ants was jumping into the market without seed money. As such, the presence or absence of seed money made a difference in the starting line for investors. Of course, 1 billion wasn’t someone’s child’s name, but Jaewon preferred to think big.

However, instead of money, rain began to fall from the sky. The raindrops, falling one by one, gradually intensified and created a hazy mist on the ground.

“Damn it.”

Jaewon, who had been backstabbed by the Korea Meteorological Administration for the fortieth time this year, had no umbrella. Weighing the value of waiting for the rain to stop against the cost of a convenience store umbrella, he started walking.

The mart located next to the hospital had a pleasant interior, as expected of a large mart. It was Jaewon’s favorite place, perfect for efficient time management in addition to grocery shopping thanks to its many convenient facilities. He wandered around the entrance for a moment before heading straight to the bookstore. He enjoyed the cool air conditioning as he browsed the bookshelves. After selecting a book recommended by his major professor and putting it in the basket, he carefully examined the newly listed must-read books on the nation’s largest financial investment cafe, “People Who Hate Losses.” To refresh his mind tired from reading, he browsed through educational books for Jeong Sujeong. By the time he looked up again, buried in the piles of books, time had flown by. Noticing that the people around him had thinned out, he selected the books he wanted to buy, paid, and left the bookstore.

“Oh dear, why is it raining so heavily?”

“I should have brought the car.”

His efforts to endure were in vain as heavy rain continued to pour outside. It seemed to be more than a passing shower. Jaewon, staring dejectedly at the downpour, admitted his misjudgment and changed his course to buy an umbrella. He had wasted time trying to prevent unnecessary expenses, so it was an unlucky day. This is why the saying that life is a gamble is so bitter.

On the way to the household goods section, when he arrived at the electronics section, a kaleidoscope of colors unfolded. Dozens of TVs were broadcasting various channels. Jaewon, who was about to pass by without a thought, stopped at the sound that reached his ears.

“…Then, let’s begin the lottery drawing.”

It was a sound he wouldn’t normally have paid attention to. Perhaps the piece of paper in his pocket had altered his sensory system. Turning his head at the word “lottery,” he saw a screen showing a man and a woman standing side by side. Jaewon remembered that today was Saturday, the day of the lottery drawing.

‘Speak of the devil.’

He vividly recalled the memory of when he was a stormy seven-year-old, dreaming of becoming rich overnight, asking his uncle to buy him lottery tickets, and then losing all his money. After tasting that bitter defeat, he had lived a life unrelated to gambling. The taste of the yogurt he drank back then still lingered on his tongue, and it was funny to see himself as an adult buying a lottery ticket and watching the drawing again. Still, it was worth checking for fun, as it couldn’t hurt. Saturday was a stock market holiday, so his schedule was free.

“You can win as long as the numbers match, regardless of the order the balls come out.”

As the neat-looking host finished speaking, the balls in the round container began to roll. The colorful balls popped like corn in a popcorn machine, and one finally popped out of the hole.

“Now, the first winning ball.”

Jaewon rummaged through his pocket as he watched the rapidly spinning ball. While unfolding the twice-folded paper, the host continued.

“It’s the blue ball, number 23.”

His eyes followed the words. He saw the sight of 2 and 3 together among the closely arranged numbers. Not a bad start.

“The second winning ball is…”

Jaewon indifferently turned over the lottery ticket. Printed on the cheap paper, which could easily be mistaken for a receipt, was the hope of nearly 80 billion won. How human it is to invest in such futile hope. In that sense, the lottery agency was no different from issuing torture disguised as luck.

It’s bound to be a blank. While pondering how to tease his uncle, who said that life is known only after betting, the drawing continued, and by the time he came to his senses, the fifth winning ball was being announced.

“The fifth winning ball is the green ball, number 45.”

Having missed the numbers in a row, he quickly moved his eyes. The numbers drawn so far were listed at the bottom of the screen, and the unconnected numbers seemed strangely familiar. At some point, the focus disappeared from his eyes as they darted between the screen and the paper, and his pupils dilated.

“…What?”

He repeatedly checked the lottery ticket, doubting his eyes, but everything was the same. Within 30 seconds, he had become a third-place winner. His pulse, which had seemed to stop for a moment, began to race.

Just one more match.

The situation was instantly overturned, and his expectations, which had converged to 0%, completely changed. Third place was a cause for celebration, but as a human, he naturally yearned for more. Countless possibilities and probabilities swept through his mind. The speed at which blood circulated throughout his body changed, and his heart beat so fast that the sound of its beating seemed to resonate through his entire body.

“What number is the second-place bonus ball?”

“Yes, the second-place bonus ball is the yellow ball, number 8.”

The last ball stopped spinning and rolled out of the outlet. While the host repeated the winning numbers, six balls were captured on the screen one by one.

“Then we’ll see you next week.”

“Thank you.”

The program ended with the host’s closing remarks, and commercials began. There was no reason to stay any longer, but Jaewon didn’t budge.

He, who had been motionless like a plaster statue, took out his phone. His fingers quickly tapped the screen, and the lottery website appeared. The lottery ticket slowly lifted upwards and was placed next to the phone. Each number was reflected large and clearly on his light-colored iris as if through a magnifying glass. The six numbers on the smartphone screen matched the six numbers arranged horizontally on the paper without omission. Under the spotlight-like mart lighting, one shadow disappeared.

Splash, splash, splash!

Every time his feet hit the water-logged ground, muddy water splashed in all directions, and the splashing sound resonated loudly. The figure running through the rain was urgent, as if being chased by someone.

“Ah!”

“Hey, watch where you’re going!”

Jaewon collided with pedestrians while turning a corner, but he continued running without a word of apology. Curses flew at the back of his head, but he didn’t care. He had lost the ability to distinguish between fire and water.

Life is indeed a gamble.

His overturned values took over the control tower of his brain. Without time to savor the situation where several million won had rolled in at once, Jaewon became the protagonist of a reversal drama.

3 billion!

The prize money was a whopping 3 billion won. After tax deductions, 2 billion would be deposited, and if he split that in half with his uncle, he would effectively have 1 billion in his hands.

“Whoa!”

Jaewon, who was running down the hill without hesitation, almost slipped and fell before barely regaining his balance. He bent over, put his hands on his knees, and gasped for breath that filled his lungs to his chin.

“Huff, huff, ha, cough.”

Coughs and breaths erupted haphazardly. He had run so hard that he could taste blood in his throat. He saw the dark, murky sky above his yellowed vision.

10 billion won really did fall from the sky.

“Ha, ha… Hahahahaha!!”

Jaewon chuckled like a crazy person, then eventually threw his head back and laughed like a madman. The pouring rain stung his eyes, and rainwater flowed into his mouth, but nothing could spoil his mood. The blood pumping from his racing heart surged fiercely through his veins along with adrenaline. Unable to contain his boiling excitement, he punched the air.

“Yeah, fuck. I’ll put it to damn good use.”

He spat out harsh words, unsure who they were directed at, and started running again. The backpack hanging on his back shook violently up and down with his running. Soon, a crosswalk appeared. The traffic light was still red, but he broke his own ironclad rule against jaywalking and sprinted across. When he was about halfway across, he heard an ominous sound behind him, like something falling to the ground.

Jaewon slammed to a stop, about to fall forward, and looked back. His belongings were scattered messily on the road. It seemed he had run out of the mart right after winning, without even properly closing his bag.

A worn pencil case he had been using for years, several pens with worn-out ink, notebooks and books. Among them, a thick book caught his eye. It was Jeong Sujeong’s current favorite.

‘What damn… No, where did this book come from?’

‘They had new arrivals at the used bookstore. It’s in perfect condition, isn’t it?’

‘Now you’re hitting up used bookstores? I applaud your spirit of exploration.’

‘Oh, it’s nothing much… I’m embarrassed to be praised.’

‘…….’

The day he first encountered <My Heart Calls Out Your Name>, Jaewon wanted to close his eyes. The title was an immediate threat to the immunity he had strengthened through years of training. He didn’t know the content well yet as he was still in the early stages, but it was sure to live up to the title. Though he was enduring it with professional spirit, he had been feeling his finger joints weakening lately.

‘Must leave your possession within 4 days.’

He suddenly recalled the passage he had read with his uncle. Come to think of it, today was exactly the fourth day since he obtained the book. Perhaps this was the perfect opportunity to let the book go. It would be ruined by the rain anyway.

‘Won the lottery and received 2 billion.’

Shaken by the temptation, he recalled another sentence and shook his head. Coincidence or not, he really did win the lottery and 2 billion rolled in. Even if he were to send it away, he shouldn’t treat it this way. Moreover, Jaewon wasn’t confident enough to face Jeong Sujeong’s wrath, which flared up like a final burst of energy. It was at that moment, as he resolved to finish strong and approached the book.

Before he could even bend down, someone picked up the book. The hand with distinct tendons disappeared into an umbrella, and the sight of raindrops sliding down the surface of the shoes seemed to slow down like slow motion.

Then, the upright figure didn’t move a muscle. The rain continued to fall in silence, and mist rose from the darkly soaked asphalt.

Jaewon tilted his head and examined the figure in front of him, but he couldn’t see properly because of the umbrella. Nevertheless, he could feel the gaze directed at him.

“…….”

“…….”

Amidst the thick, strange silence, the figure slowly raised his arm. The hand holding out the book was large and pale.

“Ah, thank you.”

Jaewon quickly took the book, bowed his head, and turned around.

‘Even his shirt is black.’

The man, dressed in black from his umbrella to his shoes, looked like the Grim Reaper. The moment that thought crossed his mind, he stopped dead in his tracks. He turned around abruptly, but the man had disappeared.

“…What?”

Jaewon muttered to himself and rubbed the back of his neck. Perhaps because of the chill, goosebumps rose on his skin.

“…Huh?”

He suddenly felt a sense of incongruity at the texture he felt on his fingertips and froze. He touched it again, thinking it was a mistake, but the sensation remained. The smooth surface wasn’t wet at all.

‘Did Jeong Sujeong waterproof it or something?’

A shiver ran down his spine, and he hurriedly opened the book. The stiff, starched pages flipped with a rustle. After being exposed to so much rain, the cover might be fine, but the inside pages should have been wrinkled. However, it was dry as if it were in a different dimension. The printed letters weren’t smudged at all and were clearly legible, and raindrops slid off the pages as if they were coated.

“…What is this?”

While he was stunned by the strange phenomenon, the pages fluttered and turned. Jaewon, frowning at the dripping rainwater, widened his eyes. An unbelievable sight began to unfold.

The letters in the book were rapidly disappearing. Jaewon couldn’t hide his bewilderment at the sight of the letters being cleanly erased as if someone was pressing the backspace button.

‘What am I seeing right now?’

He blinked repeatedly, wondering if he was hallucinating, but the letter-evaporation phenomenon continued across the pages. As he busily followed the disappearing letters, he noticed a faint light emanating from the book. Mesmerized, he stared at the light, and the disappearing letters suddenly stopped.

“Uh, uh…?”

The letters all rushed towards Jaewon at once. They climbed over his hands and arms, past the pages. He screamed and tried to shake his arms, but his body wouldn’t obey. The moment the letters, crawling over his skin like ants, wrapped around his wrist, his legs wobbled, and his arm plunged into the book.

“What, what? Uh, crazy…!”

In the blink of an eye, his right hand disappeared beyond the book. Before he could even be shocked, a tremendous force began to pull him in. It was the moment Jaewon desperately resisted and tried to throw the book away.

Honk—.

A loud horn blared, covering his ears. Reflexively, he raised his head to see a huge truck rushing towards him from close range. The thoughts of “When did this happen?” and the instinct to dodge quickly intersected, but his body was rooted to the spot, unable to move. Without even time for his life to flash before his eyes, his consciousness cut off the moment he closed his eyes against the headlights.

♘

He opened his eyes to see an unfamiliar ceiling. Jaewon slowly regained consciousness, staring at the dimly lit space. His vision swam with a whitish haze, forcing him to close and open his eyes several times with effort. The space in front of him was far from a hospital or the inside of an ambulance.

‘Am I dead?’

Jaewon slowly recalled the situation right before he lost consciousness. He couldn’t see clearly because of the headlights, but even judging by its silhouette, it was a large vehicle. Despite being hit by such a vehicle, he felt no pain anywhere in his body. For a moment, he wondered if his body had been severed, but all his limbs were intact.

That wasn’t all. When he raised his arm, it lifted swiftly into the air. He frowned, looking at his dangling wrist. He had only moved as usual, but his arm felt strangely light.

Jaewon sat up and got out of bed. His whole body felt light as if he could fly. He tilted his head and repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fists.

‘I guess I’m not dead…’

He had woken up in a small room. Jaewon looked around the studio apartment furnished with simple furniture and then started walking. He examined the room, feeling a subtle sense of incongruity as if the height from which he viewed objects had changed. It was difficult to grasp the material of the objects because there weren’t any significant furnishings.

‘Did someone save me right before I got hit by the car?’

Perhaps someone rescued him like a superhero and disappeared (the studio apartment seemed too shabby to be a hero’s home), or maybe a good samaritan picked him up while he was unconscious and took care of him.

He considered various scenarios, but couldn’t reach a satisfactory conclusion. Jaewon stood in front of a mirror hanging on one wall. His eyes widened as he was about to check for external injuries.

Jaewon had a well-built body, trained through consistent exercise, with muscles nicely defined. However, the body reflected in the mirror now was smooth, without any protruding muscles. Just like when he was a high school student.

As his thoughts reached this point, he hurriedly started feeling his whole body. However, since he was only in his underwear, there was nothing to grab hold of. He went back to the bed and frantically tossed the bedding, sending the blankets and pillows flying to the floor and kicking up dust. He couldn’t find any clothes or belongings among them.

Jaewon put one hand on his hip and covered his eyes with the other. The sudden change in his body brought an ominous premonition. Change always meant that time had passed.

‘How long have I been unconscious?’

If his muscles had atrophied, it meant he had been lying down for quite a while. Jaewon, who became rapidly anxious, tried to check the date, but there wasn’t even a common TV or computer in the empty room. He chewed his lips nervously and opened the closet, pulling out clothes at random and putting them on. He immediately ran to the front door, slipped on any shoes he could find, and kicked the door open. Fortunately, the sneakers fit perfectly as if they were made for his feet.

The area around the studio apartment building was sparsely populated. Jaewon, looking around like a madman, ran out of the alley and onto the main street. And he went straight to the first person he saw.

“What day is it today?”

“Excuse me? Today… It’s the 28th.”

The pedestrian seemed startled by the sudden and forceful question, but answered politely.

“What month?”

“Uh… March.”

“March?”

The day of the accident was in May. The fact that the year had changed made him dizzy, but Jaewon barely managed to compose himself. He still had questions to ask.

“What year is it?”

The pedestrian’s expression became subtle at the continuous questions. However, she didn’t lose her kindness and answered with a smile. Jaewon concentrated and listened attentively, but strangely, he couldn’t hear anything.

‘Is it because it’s noisy around here?’

The street was quiet, but Jaewon forced himself to think and asked the pedestrian again. However, this time as well, his ears were muffled as if submerged in water, and he couldn’t understand what she was saying. He tried to read her lips, but it was in vain. As he continued to ask, the pedestrian flinched with a frightened look and turned around to run away.

“Ah… This is driving me crazy.”

He watched the fleeing pedestrian and scratched the back of his head. He tried asking a few more pedestrians, but the result was always the same. The conversation, which flowed smoothly, turned them into Babylonians as soon as the year was mentioned.

“This guy’s crazy.”

The last person looked at Jaewon like he was a bug and left after he asked five times in a row. Jaewon gave up on using people and turned to other methods.

He tried his best. Newspapers on stands, electronic billboards on the street, computers at PC rooms, even pedestrians’ digital watches. But he couldn’t confirm the year anywhere. They were all blurred as if censored, making it impossible to identify.

Goosebumps slowly rose on his back. An unbelievable phenomenon was occurring nonchalantly. Jaewon tried to think as rationally as possible, holding onto his crumbling sanity.

His cognitive abilities were damaged due to the aftereffects of the traffic accident.
He’s not in his right mind.
He’s actually dead and has come to the afterlife.

He came up with several hypotheses, but none of them fit the situation perfectly. Except for the year issue, his cognitive abilities were perfectly normal, and judging by his extreme frustration with the current situation, he was definitely in his right mind. The third hypothesis was the most plausible, but it was just as despairing.

‘Even in the afterlife, I’m still dirt poor??’

This was bullshit. Jaewon didn’t particularly worship any god, but he had always believed without a doubt that he would go to a good place after death. Heaven and hell would each have a capacity, so it would be a relative evaluation system, and Jaewon was very confident in that regard. He didn’t have the money or time to commit evil deeds.

He had lived his life hoping for a different outcome in the afterlife, spinning optimistic scenarios, but he still only had worn-out shoes in a cramped studio apartment in Korea and a starving wallet. This was hell in the truest sense of the word. If God had any conscience or business ethics, this shouldn’t be happening.

‘Once a dirt spoon, always a dirt spoon, even after dying and being reborn a hundred times?’

Jaewon stopped his train of thought for a moment. Otherwise, he felt like he would go insane with rage. He took a deep breath to calm the fury that felt like burning all his brain cells. His bloodshot eyes saw his reflection in the shop window. The man with messy, tangled hair, a pale complexion, and a worn jumper looked utterly pathetic.

Jaewon looked at himself with a sinking heart, barely distinguishable from a homeless person at the racetrack. The jumper looked ridiculously large, perhaps because his body had become smaller. The moment he thought his height seemed to have shrunk as well, his eyes widened.

Memories that had sunk into his unconsciousness exploded like flashes. Clothes in the closet, shining bookshelves, letters being erased in an instant flashed before his eyes like snapshots.

They gathered in one place and finally created a possibility, and as soon as Jaewon remembered it, he ran back the way he had come.

Crash!

The poor door without a lock generously welcomed him back, just as he had left empty-handed. He rushed into the house and threw open the closet. Among the mostly dark clothes, a white shirt stood out like a crane among chickens. It was clearly a school uniform, with black trim on the sleeves and collar. Jaewon hurriedly pulled out the shirt and carefully examined the chest area. A sky-blue name tag was reflected in his pupils.

Bae Jaewon

He rubbed his eyes roughly with the back of his hand, wondering if he had seen wrong. However, even after checking twice, it was his name. After spacing out for a while, he turned his eyes to the emblem embedded in the pocket.

Jon Se High School

Jon Se High School

He felt his mind become hazy as he read the letters on the emblem. He had never heard of a high school with that name in his entire life.

Except for once.

“Ah, wait. Don’t tell me.”

Jaewon grabbed his head and frantically rummaged through his memories.

‘I never heard it from anyone, but I remember pronouncing it. I read it with my own eyes. Not on a screen, but on paper.’

Publications he had encountered flipped through his mind. His mind, swimming among the pages densely packed with letters, stopped at a certain point.

Jon Se High School.

It was the high school attended by the protagonist of the last novel he read. At that moment, something struck him like lightning. JOHN NASE, 4 days, good luck…. At the end of that, Jaewon found a small and precious existence he had forgotten.

“Fuck, my lottery ticket!!!!”

♘

For two hours, Jaewon lay on the floor like cold rice. After thrashing around, he had no energy left to freak out. He had turned the whole house upside down, but couldn’t find even a scrap of paper resembling a lottery ticket. An old flip phone was his only meaningful discovery. Clutching at straws, he thoroughly examined the inside and outside of the device, hoping for some information, but it was the same model as the one he used in the past, yet nothing was saved on it. He couldn’t find any clues on the phone, which was as clean as if it had been factory reset.

Staring blankly into space with hollow eyes, he suddenly remembered the first page of the book.

‘This book must leave your possession within 4 days.’

‘You must send 7 copies to people who need good luck.’

John Nase, who followed the instructions, won the 2 billion lottery, and the disobedient president who threw the book away was assassinated. He, who threw the book away and then picked it up again, was trapped in the book, leaving behind his winning lottery ticket.

“Sob, sob…”

Jaewon, his lips trembling, began to whimper. If he had known this would happen, he would have sent that damn book away on a flower-decorated palanquin. But even so, how could they give him 2 billion and then take it away? Even Satan would get stabbed for doing something like this. The more he thought about it, the more frustrated and angry he became, and he couldn’t stand it.

At first, he thought he had regressed to the past. His strangely youthful appearance and relatively smaller physique suggested that possibility. Especially since Jaewon had grown 3cm taller in the military, he could immediately tell the difference. However, many factors shattered his hopes. Jaewon had never attended Jon Se High School, and the studio apartment was different from where he lived. And what about this world where he couldn’t see or hear what year it was? Above all, the sensation of being wrapped in letters and dragged into the book left no room for delusion.

‘I thought I was hallucinating before I died.’

Jaewon reached one conclusion. Even though he didn’t want to believe it, he seemed to be inside a novel. And it was the novel that his cousin, Jeong Sujeong, loved so much.

‘What was the title of the book?’

Memories were jumbled in his panic-stricken mind. He sniffled and began to organize his devastated mind.

‘<He Was Handsome>? <Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do>? <My Love, That Bastard>?’

He couldn’t quite grasp it because he had read so many books. Jaewon, sequentially arranging his memories, finally recalled the title of the most recent book he had read. At that moment, he squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his fists.

“…….”

Jaewon, who had aged considerably in the past minute, opened his eyes wide.

‘I’ll go back no matter what.’

It wasn’t the time to be wallowing in despair. He had to return to reality as soon as possible. The period for claiming the lottery winnings was one year from the start date of payment for the relevant draw.

‘I have one year.’

Jaewon glared at the moldy ceiling. There had never been anything free in his life. At this moment, when he had gained and lost a windfall for the first time in his life, he couldn’t let his mind and body rest for even a second.

‘The goal is early completion. Find the protagonist and quickly bring the story to an end.’

Every story has an ending. Jaewon raised his arm and wiped the tears from his eyes. Two hours of despair was enough. He would overcome this mysterious tragedy and return to the reality where 2 billion won awaited him. He kicked open the door and took his first step into this unknown world.