Chapter 61
I quickly escaped the ruins left behind by the Sword Demon's attack, which had sliced through rocks and even steel like thin snack sticks.
"One night, please."
I checked into a cheap motel nearby and carefully opened the jewel box I'd stashed in my bag.
Creak—
"...Worth all the trouble."
If I planned to stick around in this era for long, I would've bought up land. Rising sea levels, warming oceans, wars, desertification, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, resource depletion, freak weather... countless countries would vanish amid the catastrophes to come, and new cities would rise in their place.
That land had no development plans yet, so snapping it up cheap bit by bit would've been a steal... But nah.
Living expenses are covered now.
Once I tracked down Nam Hae-su, the Swimming Emperor, and convinced him, I'd be done. No need to get attached to wealth.
Count Amolrang.
That was the lesson from my exploits as a founding hero of a great empire in the dream world. When you wake up, the riches, fame, power, status—all gone. Love included!
"Haa... suddenly feeling down."
The TV was blaring breaking news about the Sword Demon that attacked me and the soldiers stationed at the coastal guard post.
(Mysterious life-form...)
(Whereabouts of the 20-something man being chased...)
(All-out recovery of vanished shell casings...)
In Choi Kang-min's dream, the Sword Demon was a well-known monster, complete with its name. But in Nam Hae-su's dream, it was being treated like some newly discovered creature or a mutant!
It hadn't even appeared in Song Seon-yeong or Kim Eun-jeong's dreams...
What's the difference?
I wanted to learn more about the monster that had threatened my life twice, but info was scarce.
Limbs that severed anything. Reflexes that blocked bullets at close range. Iron-plate-tough skin. Vitality that endured even a pierced brain. Mercury-like silver blood. Friction-defying movement.
...
Thanks to fighting it firsthand, I knew plenty about combat, but beyond that, all I had was what the Earth Defense Force had told me in Choi Kang-min's dream—the ones who'd saved me.
Too bad.
If I'd known I'd run into another Sword Demon, I would've investigated more back then. I kicked myself for getting so caught up in treasure hunting that I hadn't prepared a weapon to protect myself.
Anyway, (The brave soldiers who stood their ground...)
(Promoted one rank, granted nine days' leave...)
(Site surveillance cams destroyed...)
Beep!
I switched off the TV as it looped the same news and took a shower before collapsing onto the fluffy bed.
"Phew..."
My stamina was still overflowing, but the tension from life-or-death stakes had left me mentally drained.
A shift in mindset from before. The old "it's just a dream, dying's no big deal" attitude was gone, replaced by a clingy obsession with survival.
It felt almost like...
This is reality.
Rest up tonight. Start the real hunt tomorrow.
* * *
South Korea, teetering on the brink of national extinction from the world's lowest birthrate.
But even so, scouring the country on foot for the "Swimming Emperor" was impossible.
So my solution? Hire a detective agency with cash.
"You're looking for someone?"
"Yes."
Detective agency. They handle cases too tough for individuals. Sherlock Holmes is the poster boy.
But Aptitude Test results make detectives rare as hell, so commissions are tricky. Not here, though—this country was crawling with them.
"What's your relationship to the target? Ex-girlfriend who dumped you, childhood friend who moved, life-saver, your wife's lover..."
"Does that matter?"
"Yeah. A buddy's agency just dealt with a shady client. Guy tracked down a stranger woman and exposed her affair, ended up in court for privacy invasion."
"Ah..."
I got why this detective—whom I'd walked in on without an appointment—was so cautious.
"We get punished if we're complicit in crime. 'Didn't know' doesn't fly in court."
"Crime? Exposing an affair isn't righteous?"
"Unless they're legally married, digging into private lives is criminal."
"Even if that person's a criminal?"
"Criminals are people too. And affairs might justify divorce, but they're not crimes. Adultery law got scrapped in 2015."
"......"
This era was way lenient on cheating.
"Name and age?"
"Here's my resident registration."
Shff—
I showed him the fresh ID I'd gotten days ago.
"Hmm... Kang Moon-soo?"
"Yes."
"Relationship to the target?"
"No idea."
"Pardon?"
"I've got amnesia. All I know is the name and age."
"Hm..."
The detective stroked his chin, looking dubious.
"If you're not comfortable, no hard feelings."
Plenty of agencies out there. Some detective would bite on my sketchy request.
Still, feels off.
A guy like Nam Hae-su, who had to know his aptitude and the world's future, not showing up online? Bothered me.
Why? If he'd gone swimmer or track star, he'd sweep Olympics again. Real estate or stocks? Mega-rich long-term.
Didn't make sense why I'd need a detective.
"What info do you want? Home address, contact, assets, family, career, workplace..."
"Existence."
"Pardon?"
"Just confirm if this person actually exists on Earth."
"...Quite the unusual request."
"Snap a photo as proof if you find him. I vaguely remember the face."
No liability for the agency—just check if he's alive. Did he catch that? The detective's expression shifted.
"Name and age. Results by tomorrow afternoon."
"Nam Hae-su. 25."
"Photos require him stepping out, so might take till tomorrow. Extra fee for that."
"Understood."
Can't rule out faking it without real digging. Better pay more for certainty.
"Advance payment? Cash gets you a discount."
"Cash it is."
Jingle!
The government settlement fund was already dwindling.
Tough call. Jewelry store? Pawnshop? Should've test-sold one first!
While waiting on results, scout spots to offload the jewel box at top dollar!
* * *
Internet digging revealed old-era policies diverged sharply from modern ones.
Artifacts are state property...
Finders got no ownership rights, so compensation sucked. Good intent to prevent smuggling, but paltry payouts? Folks like me would hide discoveries for sure.
"This is it."
Thud.
Expecting patriotic sacrifice from a citizen this new? Unrealistic.
"Ooh!"
"Heard you specialize in repatriating looted national treasures from abroad."
"Spot on! Great choice coming here!"
The refined-hobby uncle eyed the jewel box hungrily.
"This piece..."
I channeled childhood museum trips with my parents, explaining diligently. Had to, for the best price.
Clap clap!
Even got a standing ovation.
"Incredible! A young man with such insight!"
"Thank you."
"Erk! You know its history and artistry too well—I can't lowball it!"
"I know a bit, but you clocked its value at a glance."
"Sharp tongue too!"
"Haha!"
"Haha!"
Jingle!
Smooth deal sealed amid mutual flattery!
* * *
Hunting the Swimming Emperor meant constant Olympic news checks.
Unfamiliar.
Athletes over 30 still dominating pro leagues and national teams, unretired.
Cause: talent shortage! They kept using past-prime veterans.
"Can't be helped."
P's Aptitude Test machine could mold a 19-year-old soccer virgin into a legend. Old era? No opportunity, even with genius—end up average office drone.
Politics? Worse.
(Indicted for bribery...)
(Vehemently denies sex-for-favors allegations...)
(Prison for spreading falsehoods...)
Politicians stirring international shit with overzealous patriotism? Common. Criminal convictions? First I'd ever seen.
Temperament, conscience, integrity. "Politician" aptitude reveals humanity most starkly.
Does Director Seo Hye-ju prefer this world?
Couldn't fathom it.
"Kang Moon-soo-ssi. Quite the makeover in a day."
"Thanks."
En route, I'd hit a salon and department store for some self-investment.
The detective pulled a slim file from his desk drawer. "Results are in."
"Can't wait."
Wondered where Nam Hae-su—who'd ditched swimming for a new life—was holed up, doing what.
"Nam Hae-su. Age 25."
"Yes."
"Doesn't exist."
"......"
"Factoring in your amnesia, I checked similar-aged matches."
"Ah, okay."
No way I'd misremembered his age, right?
Zero expectations.
"This guy's Nam Hae-su, 22."
Shff—
The photo showed a college kid dozing on the subway.
"...Not him."
Face totally different.
"How about this? Nam Hae-su, 29."
Shff—
Second pic: an officer in Republic of Korea uniform.
"...Not him either."
"Then the Nam Hae-su you're seeking isn't in South Korea. Emigration or name change possible, but that's extra fees."
"Hm..."
Figured he might not exist, but really not?
Did I overestimate this...?
Thought cash would net him quick. Reality said otherwise.
"What now?"
"...Dig deeper. How much extra?"
"On the house."
"Free? You said extra fees..."
Couldn't believe it.
But the detective smiled relaxedly, no joke. "Customer retention. Cutthroat industry."
"Ah, got it."
"Next time you commission, double-check details. Get caught using illegal means, client gets punished too."
"Ah..."
"And specify precisely. Avoid double-dipping on similar jobs."
"Thanks."
Top-notch customer service here.
"Back in a few days?"
"No need."
"Huh?"
"The person you're after doesn't exist on Earth. No emigration or name change."
"You already...?"
"That's why it's free. Hate taking cash without results."
Shff—
He showed documents proving the search.
「Search Results: 0 Matches」
"Ah..."
"Swing by if trouble hits again."
"Will do. Definitely."
Jingle!
Paid the fee and left.
Damn.
If the Swimming Emperor Nam Hae-su didn't exist on Earth?
Only one answer.
Like Kim Eun-jeong becoming romance-fantasy protagonist Anjilina Chimac in The Youngest Daughter of the Count's Family.
Nam Hae-su had become "someone else"!
"Heh... dolphins might've been easier."
Time to scrap the plan.