Chapter 59
Alien, scientist, doctor, time traveler... Wild speculations about the mysterious identity of P never ceased. Almost no one remembers the era before the Aptitude Test she invented came into the world—the old era.
'It was hell.'
That's how history books described the old era. A world where people paid taxes to live in a country ruled by politicians who sold out their citizens and abused their power! Hard to imagine.
"The Swimming Emperor we're about to meet, Nam Hae-su, is a living witness to that old era."
"Truly respectable."
Anyone who endured that hellish time deserved respect.
"Surprising."
Seo Hye-ju, riding with me on the free shuttle bus to the island's sole hospital, dropped the unexpected comment.
"What is?"
"I figured someone discriminated against like you for their aptitude would prefer the old era."
"Well... Personally, I'm a bit dissatisfied, but no way I'd want to live in a country run by criminals and con artists."
"Textbook answer."
"What do you think, Director?"
"The brighter the light, the darker the shadow."
"Meaning there are pros and cons?"
"Not everyone loves or is satisfied with their aptitude. But this world doesn't tolerate choices outside of it."
"Ah..."
"Can't deny it's more efficient than the old era in every way, though."
"True."
The old era's Olympic records were something even third-string players could shatter easily! Same went for other fields.
'Dad too...'
He'd ignored his aptitude, jumped into business, and gone bankrupt.
Tak.
We got off the bus and entered the hospital. But...
"The entrance feels hostile already."
"Nam Hae-su's family. The kids aren't on good terms over inheritance issues."
"Aha!"
"Right now, the International Swimming Federation manages his assets. But what happens if he passes without a will?"
"Uh... They split it equally among the kids, right?"
"Simple thinking, sure. But should dutiful kids and ungrateful ones get equal shares?"
"Huh?"
Now that she mentioned it...
"The federation's involved too. They interpret it as him entrusting his fortune to them even after death. The country's subtly hoping for that."
"Whoa..."
Just hearing it made my head spin.
"Easiest solution? Nam Hae-su handles his assets himself."
"So wake him up first?"
"Exactly."
"......"
I had no obligation or duty to step in.
"Wanna try?"
"How much for treatment?"
But money made it worth considering.
* * *
Thanks to P's Aptitude Test, geniuses like Einstein, Tesla, and Newton poured out in droves. Add politicians who didn't embezzle taxes giving full support! Humanity's civilization and tech exploded forward—inevitable result.
Why bring this up now?
"Whoa! How old...?"
Medical advances had sharply raised human lifespans. History's witnesses were commonplace now. Of course, you needed money to enjoy it!
"No need to gawk. Decode the chemical formula you brought from the future, and you could live till Earth dies."
"That's a bit..."
An elderly man lay rigidly on the bed in the spacious, clean hospital room.
The Swimming Emperor, Nam Hae-su.
They said his health had declined since collapsing, but he looked good for another 20 years.
"What do you think?"
"Hm... I can probably enter the old man's dream."
"How do you know?"
"Gut feeling."
"Handy ability!"
Confirming Nam Hae-su's coma wasn't ordinary meant occult over medicine from here on.
Song Seon-yeong, Choi Kang-min, Kim Eun-jeong. Three prior wanderings had given me some knack, I dared say.
"First... Let's learn who Nam Hae-su really is."
Not as Swimming Emperor, but as a human.
* * *
Nam Hae-su, born in the old era's 'Republic of Korea' before P's Aptitude Test.
A kids' swimming class started for his frail, sickly body changed his fate.
'Weak stamina...?'
Athletic aptitudes showed from the sprout stage.
Effort? Anyone ambitious does that, right?
Equal 24 hours for all—effort levels the field, but talent and investment decide.
In other words, "Nam Hae-su's aptitude wasn't swimmer, huh?"
Conclusion from his kids' and grandkids' published biography.
Seo Hye-ju, investigating beside me, nodded.
"Track athlete."
"Ah..."
Dolphin vs. cheetah? Questionable, but way more convincing than weightlifter.
Nam Hae-su's aptitude: track athlete.
Plausible inference here.
"Maybe active as a track star in the dream...?"
Or refusing to quit swimming, sweeping Olympic medals in both!
"Too optimistic? Could be a wuxia novel world he read in old age."
"Uh... Possible."
Sudden explosion in study load!
'Taste and bail?'
Confirm Earth or alien planet, then suicide out.
"Better not plan to die in the dream."
"Brain cells?"
"That too, but you had a heart attack after dying once recently."
"Yeah."
In romance fantasy The Youngest Daughter of the Count's Family, caught in a feud between two houses, died like a dog.
"Swim times tanked noticeably after."
"......"
"Not just that. Killed by Choi Kang-min patient in a dream? Times dropped then too."
"...No idea."
"Me neither. Till his coach skimmed your records and asked my take."
"Coach Jang Seo-yeon..."
Coaches check athlete health routinely, but this was life-or-death info for me.
If I'd stayed ignorant?
'Would've treated life lightly!'
Would've realized eventually, but after skills dropped too far for nationals.
Anyway, "Heart attack drops physical performance regardless of health."
"Hm. Suddenly don't wanna enter the dream."
"Your call."
"Surprising. Thought you'd convince me."
"Why would I?"
"You're a doctor."
"Can you call a doctor 'doctor' if they ruin a healthy person's life to treat a patient? Not like family blood transfusion."
"Sorry."
My thinking was too shallow.
"Forget it. I did push you back when I didn't know the risks and aftereffects."
"Well..."
I'd accepted lightly then too.
'Fearless idiot!'
Bravado before Magic Boy Choi Kang-min, calling it a dream.
My boldness helped break him, but looking back, pure recklessness.
"What'll you do?"
"Hm..."
"No need to enter. Not his primary doc, so no loss for me."
No downsides or pressure to refuse.
"...I'll try."
"Sure it's careful? Your life's on the line."
"As long as not dolphin or Magic Boy."
Dolphin: hard to find. Magic Boy: hard to convince.
"Too optimistic..."
"It's fine."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Curious what dream trapped the Swimming Emperor with all the money and fame."
Definitely not just the fee.
* * *
"...Success."
Perfectly prepped at the hospital, I infiltrated Nam Hae-su's dream.
No complacency! Rushed into The Youngest Daughter of the Count's Family world, nearly died from a bandit's arrow to the head.
Scanned surroundings immediately.
'Not medieval...'
Unlike Song Seon-yeong's modern dream or Choi Kang-min's near-future one.
Smoggy sky from exhaust.
Masked citizens.
Fossil-fuel cars.
Street trash.
...... Horrific sights and antiques unseen in our meticulously managed Earth present or future!
'Whoa! Internal combustion!'
Roads crammed with 'cars with exhaust pipes'—museum pieces only.
Nam Hae-su's dream: old era, way before my birth.
Checked pockets.
"Hm? This... a mask?"
Smartphone prepped to recycle on Magic Boy Choi Kang-min didn't transfer; instead, two white masks in pocket.
Trick failed. Straight method it was.
'First...'
Citizens eyeing me like a criminal, hinting.
War? Plague? Smog? Fashion? Whatever, donned the pocket mask first.
Then, "Excuse me."
Approached a fidgety male student waiting for his girlfriend outside a department store.
Wanted to roast his dated clothes and hair, but passersby guys same age dressed identically—gave up.
"Who're you? No way! Boyfriend...?"
"Where's this?"
Quick question before weird misunderstanding.
"Seoul Dongdaemun."
"Got it. Oh, one more. What year? AD... right?"
"Hey. Asking where this is, you really don't know?"
"Yes. Really don't, asking you."
"Hidden camera or...?"
"No."
Dream location and era confirmed, began proper search.
'Young Nam Hae-su nearby...!'
Pattern so far.
Song Seon-yeong same school despite suicide loops; Magic Boy Choi Kang-min flew to Elmolrans Hospital start; bumped Kim Eun-jeong's Chimac County carriage...
Not three coincidences—Nam Hae-su near start point too.
Thud thud!
Surplus stamina, hustled through department store.
'Of course!'
Why start in crowded city center!
Thankful not mid-Pacific.
If Nam Hae-su dolphin, would've drowned on entry.
Probably human. Satisfied not dolphin, decided to ask passersby.
"Excuse me!"
"You again?"
The distraught male student, girlfriend still AWOL.
Asked him again.
"Know athlete Nam Hae-su?"
"Nam Hae-su? First time hearing. What sport?"
"Swimming."
He frowned at my persistence but even checked his smartphone.
"Nam, Hae, Su... Nothing?"
"Pardon?"
"Searched now. No swimmer, one businessman and one patent attorney same name."
"Can I see?"
"Go ahead."
I peered at his old-era smartphone screen.
'Really nothing?'
Businessman and attorney Nam Hae-su mismatched 'Swimming Emperor' looks and birth year.
Nam Hae-su-less dream of Nam Hae-su?
As I puzzled—
Beep!
「My Love: Oppa, sorry.」
「My Love: Mom's sick, can't go out.」
「My Love: Can't meet for a while.」
Texts arrived.
"...Don't say a word."
"Hang in there."
I carefully comforted the teary student and slipped away.
Now what?
Short deliberation.
"Excuse me. Police station?"
"Yes. How can we help?"
"Where to apply for resident ID?"
"Ah! Lost yours? When, where...?"
"No."
"...Illegal immigrant?"
"Uh... Ack! My head...! Can't remember a thing."
"......"
Amnesia—handy ploy.