Chapter 32
Choi Kang-min's past wasn't some grand tale on the level of the world's or humanity's fate. On the contrary, it was downright banal. But a parent's heart is different.
"Back in elementary school, Kang-hun got teased all the time for looking like a girl."
"I know."
I'd protected him every time!
"Doesn't that strike you as odd?"
"Huh?"
Odd?
"Sure, kids vary, but that's before the second growth spurt when gender traits really sharpen. Plenty of boys look girly, and girls look boyish."
"...Yeah, when you put it that way."
"But Kang-hun was the only one singled out. Why? Bad personality? Ugly face? No parents?"
"......"
None of that applied to Choi Kang-hun. The opposite, in fact! The reason high school girls fawned over him wasn't because he'd suddenly manned up. He hadn't changed at all.
Why really?
I'd never dwelled on it since it was all in the past. But looking back now, it was truly strange.
"It was Kang-min pulling strings behind the scenes. Telling kids to bully my little brother."
"......"
The revelation was so shocking I was at a loss for words.
"He bribed the neighborhood kids with money to egg them on."
"...Does Kang-hun know?"
"No. If he did, he'd have wished his brother dead long ago."
"Yeah, probably..."
Still, Choi Kang-hun hadn't given up hope. He'd begged me to heal his brother.
"It was the kind of scheme that would've blown up with a little digging, but I paid those kids off to keep their mouths shut."
"Why would you...?"
"A parent's petty greed. Hoping their kids would bond."
"Ah..."
I got it logically. My heart refused to accept it, though.
"Mister—"
"Kang-min lost his mom young in a car accident."
"......"
"Right after the funeral, I married my current wife, who was the housekeeper at the time."
"...You messed up."
"Someday, when you fall for someone, you'll understand this old man's heart! Anyway, that's why I've always felt indebted to Kang-min."
"So you turned a blind eye."
"Exactly."
The story of pitying his firstborn, starved of a birth mother's love, and covering for him.
"That's all?"
"What?"
"Everyone screws up as a kid. The problem is when they don't grow out of it."
I had no intention of justifying or defending Choi Kang-min's actions, but this alone lacked punch.
"What if that kid hired local thugs with his money?"
"......"
"When you kept shielding Kang-hun and the little punks couldn't touch him, that's what Kang-min came up with."
"That's... too much."
Way beyond what age could excuse!
"He even dangled company shares, telling them to make sure he was gone for good."
"Crazy!"
A grade-schooler spouting words even adults hesitate to say? Insane.
"You've probably guessed, but Kang-min's plan never went through."
"You stopped it."
"Yeah."
"Phew..."
I rubbed my chest, relieved I'd dodged a bullet. If he hadn't nipped it in the bud? Protecting Choi Kang-hun would've put me in the crosshairs too.
"Now that I think about it..."
"What?"
"The timing of when Kang-min collapsed. It was the day he realized his old man knew everything."
"Ah!"
Cause and effect lined up perfectly. Was he thinking the same as me?
The mister let out a hollow laugh.
"Maybe Kang-min's incurable illness is just escapism."
Escapism.
Like a politician denying crime allegations until evidence drops, then fleeing abroad with his fortune.
Choi Kang-min had bolted straight into his dream.
"That's why I need your help, mister."
"How can I assist?"
"Personal info that'd convince Choi Kang-min that place is just a dream."
"Hmm..."
"Don't have any?"
"Too much to sort through in time. Even more if you'd acquired my company. Especially secrets only the CEO knows."
"Oh!"
A deadly dagger to fell the Magic Boy was stacking up nicely.
* * *
The new semester began. Freshmen with athletic aptitudes flooded the Sports University, and those without nearby homes or rentals headed to the dorms.
Sweet being solo!
But thanks to the swimming coach's scheme(?), I'd won our bet and claimed a double dorm for myself. Sharing with someone would've been nicer, but after a whole break alone, it felt like I'd defended my turf. Only flaw.
And the stares around me had shifted.
"......"
"......"
From sardine treatment before to mullet status now? Thanks to my decent record in the last meet.
Swimming's all about times. Unlike soccer or taekwondo where opponents matter, your speed doesn't change based on who's racing you. Athletes in the same event with worse times than mine had no choice but to sweat.
That is,
"Is that the guy...?"
"Even without the aptitude..."
Their coaches felt the same. To gain respect, coaches need official wins from their swimmers. A rival's emergence? Unwelcome.
Don't worry, folks!
Land a decent job and I'm retiring ASAP. Swimming player isn't my aptitude.
I might shine briefly in the lower ranks, but lacking potential means I'll get lapped eventually.
"Coach."
"Need more beef again?"
That summed up how he saw me. Too dismissive? One word from me.
"If you're buying, sure."
Keep underestimating me like this!
"Haha! I'll set up another match soon!"
"......"
No free beef in his plans, apparently.
"So, what's up? You look like you want a favor."
"Spot on."
Aptitude for coaching? Even without months together, he read me like a book.
"Spit it out."
"I need a few days off."
"How many? Break—nah. You mean actual leave?"
"Yes."
"Depends on where, how, and how long. This ain't a school guaranteeing student autonomy."
"Ah!"
No teacher meddling in breaks or weekends had tricked me.
Right! I'm an athlete!
A full-fledged employee, not a student! And this guy wasn't a teacher—he was a sports coach with rights to monitor and discipline to prevent slacking.
That included booze, smokes, drugs, gambling—anything harming performance.
"Not vacationing to play. Heading to the hospital."
"Hospital? What's wrong?"
The coach's lax face turned dead serious.
Choose words carefully.
This was the crux. To wake Choi Kang-min, I had to enter his dream. Problem: As a proper employee, I had weekday duties here. Couldn't linger in dreams long.
"Special constitution."
"Rare disease?"
"Not that."
"Then that ghost from Yuil-am's broadcast?"
"...Along those lines."
I was stunned.
I never mentioned it!
Reading my face, the coach replied with exasperation.
"Athlete Kang Moon-soo. Think I know nothing? Listen up. It's not just me—coaches must know everything about their charges."
"Ah..."
"Good chance to learn more. Submit your doctor's contact and diagnosis. Then you'll get leave."
"Yes."
Conditions, but leave granted? Relief.
What if he'd refused? Headache just thinking it.
"Hey! You gotta tell me the key stuff. When, and how many days?"
"Probably... three days. Dates flexible if it includes weekends. Sooner the better."
Three days. In dreams where time flows three times faster, that's nine. Padded for safety to avoid rushing and botching.
"Take it starting now."
"Huh? But..."
"Fine. Plenty waiting if we free up the pool."
"......"
"What?"
"Thank you."
"Then come back healthy. Run at dawn so you don't stiffen up."
"I'll... try."
Tough while bedridden.
Perfect.
Prep complete.
* * *
"Don't worry. I flooded the diagnosis with legit jargon and sent it via phone."
Seo Hye-ju, hearing my tale, dropped everything to fast-track it.
"Thanks. If the coach calls, please handle it."
"As I said before, convincing patients and guardians is basic doctoring."
"Got it. Still, owe you. It's my livelihood."
"Swimming athlete? No offense, but it doesn't suit you."
"Truly offensive!"
We bantered as we headed where Choi Kang-min lay.
Room 1906? No. For today, we'd borrowed the Elmolrans Hospital vice director's office!
Considering I warp to matching real-world spots in dreams, we'd picked beside Seo Hye-ju the "vice director." A safe zone.
"Kang Moon-soo, pass my regards to dream-me too."
"Sure."
"But words alone are boring, right? Deliver this letter to my future self twenty years from now."
"...You're prepped."
"Of course! Rare chance!"
Rare experience. Totally agreed.
I approached Choi Kang-min, surrounded by life-extending machines.
"Hey."
"......"
Trapped in Magic Boy delusions, no response.
Choi Kang-min. Stay put.
I'm coming!
"Kang Moon-soo. The big one—can you pull it off?"
"Of course."
No prior willful intrusion into another's dream. Possible? No doubts. Instinct screamed it was doable.
"Whew..."
First time still jangled nerves.
"Lie on the next bed."
"Yes."
To avoid mishaps like me cracking my skull on the floor.
Changed to comfy patient garb, lay straight beside Choi Kang-min.
"...Ma'am. What're you doing?"
Her deft hands slapped monitors all over me.
"Measuring your body's changes entering another's dream."
"Ah, okay."
Agreed beforehand? Minor, so no objection.
Priority? Choi Kang-min.
Time ticks, and he'll bliss out to a happy death as the Magic Boy.
Not on my watch!
I wanna see him shatter, realizing it's delusion, and despair.
"Here goes!"
I gripped the withered hand of the stick-thin Choi Kang-min like rotten wood.
Grab.
No matter my struggles, physical force couldn't match the Magic Boy.
So,
Choi Kang-min. Eyes wide open.
I'll smash him fair and square with cold, hard facts!