Chapter 75
Everyone regrets their past mistakes and errors. Even those who claim otherwise couldn't confidently say their former selves were perfect. Nam Hae-su was no exception.
"This is my chance."
In the past, swimming had been his entire life. He'd ruined any competitors who stood in the way of his success, no holds barred.
The Swimming Emperor. It wasn't an exaggeration to say he'd built that title by trampling others.
This time will be different.
As he aged, his perspective widened, and he truly realized how vast the world was. Politics, economics, culture, diplomacy, science... It was nothing like his childhood, when swimming had filled his head to bursting.
"Real estate speculation..."
"A public apology to the nation..."
"Cracking down on rallies..."
Nam Hae-su, once a swimmer, had no interest in politics, but he wasn't ignorant of its outcomes. Failure! Even if he didn't want to know, things like taxes, welfare, and public safety affected daily life too much to ignore.
"I have to stop it."
He was the only one who could prevent the same tragedy from repeating. He had to block those politicians who would ruin Korea's future from rising, no matter what.
How? In a capitalist society, there was almost nothing money couldn't buy.
I have plenty of capital.
Unlike Nam Hae-su, born to ordinary parents, his new body, Huang Hae-su, was a third-generation chaebol heir. The chairman, having completely lost affection for his comatose son—whose face was the only living part left—doted on his "grandson" instead!
After that, it was simple.
"Grandpa!"
"Yes, my little darling!"
"Can I have some pocket money?"
"Hoho! Tell me quick. What toy do you want..."
"I want to buy some land."
"......"
"It's farmland right now, so it's cheap. But once the development restrictions lift, it'll be hundreds of times more expensive."
"Real estate investing at age five... Where did you hear about that?"
"I studied it."
"Hohoho!"
It was a price that would make ordinary commoners' eyes pop out, but from a chaebol's view, it was dirt cheap. If the price didn't rise? Sell it later and be done.
"Give this old man's cheek a kiss, and I'll think about it."
*Mwah!*
"Hohoho! Alright then."
To a chaebol, a kiss from a beloved grandson was pure profit. And sure enough, a year later, the development restrictions suddenly lifted, a subway station and landmark went up, and the land value skyrocketed fiftyfold.
"Grandpa~!"
"I can hardly believe it."
"I want to buy something else."
"Hoho! Tell me anything. It's all thanks to my little darling that I made that money. I'll even buy you a real airplane."
"I want to invest in movies."
"Movies?"
"Yeah. And more land too."
Nam Hae-su was confident in the film industry. He might not know politics, but he enjoyed culture to some extent. He knew the titles of blockbuster hits.
"Which film company?"
"An unknown one, with an unknown director. But it'll definitely be a huge hit."
"Hmm..."
Unlike land, movies weren't easy investments. If the company tanked, the money was gone. Especially for some untrustworthy small outfit.
But,
"Grandpa~!"
"...Fine. It's your money—spend it as you like!"
"Wow! Thank you!"
"Oh dear, my little darling. That happy about it?"
"Yes! Grandpa's the best!"
"Hohoho!"
The risks paid off beyond imagination in the film industry. Two hundred times? Three hundred? With ample funds, they produced films far more lavishly than in his past life, leading to massive hits—
"Thank you!"
"You're my benefactor!"
"I'll work hard!"
The actors who shot from obscurity to stardom wept tears of gratitude thanks to those box-office smashes. And those connections,
"Thank my grandson."
"Hello! I'm Huang Hae-su!"
Nam Hae-su tagged along with his grandfather, steadily building his allies.
"Eight years old...?"
"Investing in business at eight?!"
"What an amazing grandson."
But Nam Hae-su tried to stay humble as much as possible. He couldn't afford to alter the future with his meddling. It was the natural choice for safe, ongoing investments.
"No way. Grandpa just hypes me up too much."
"Hey now! Does that make me sound like a liar?"
"No one here thinks that."
"Well..."
It was true. It just looked like a grandfather bragging about his beloved grandson—no one saw it as lies. Since they already liked him, it came off as heartwarming, with no critics around.
Security perfect! As his grandfather's trust deepened, Nam Hae-su invested more boldly, never failing once.
But,
"Young master! Disaster! The chairman's been in an accident—he's gone!"
"Grandpa?!"
Crisis struck Nam Hae-su's smooth life. His biological father's jealousy and greed, collusion with rival companies and politicians, deliberate sabotage... As the money piled up, countless people eyed it hungrily. Still a minor, Nam Hae-su fought desperately to defend himself.
For a full ten years! Until he reached legal adulthood, he wasted precious time and money in that filthy mudfight.
"Hae-su! Please have mercy...!"
"We were wrong...!"
"Father, Mother. Congratulations on your life sentences. Stay healthy."
Clang!
He sent his loveless parents to prison without hesitation.
Interfering with my plans? I won't forgive that—ever!
He was a chosen being, selected to change Korea's grim future. Family or not, obstacles had to be removed.
"Chairman Huang Hae-su. You've been through hell."
"You've suffered."
"You've suffered!"
He'd wasted time and money, but he hadn't stood idle. He'd gathered like-minded people.
Revolution! For his beloved fatherland, he'd gladly sacrifice his one life to exterminate the vermin ruining it!
"Are you prepared?"
"Yes!"
"Of course!"
Nam Hae-su smiled warmly at their resounding reply.
We can do this!
Confidence and emotion swelled—he couldn't fail with them by his side.
"Long live the Republic of Korea!"
"Long live!"
"Long live!"
Nam Hae-su led his comrades into full-scale action.
* * *
"I thought it'd succeed quickly. But the trash eating away at this country sensed the threat and banded together to resist."
"Must've been frustrating."
I listened silently to Nam Hae-su's grumbling.
This might be easier than I thought?
He seemed to want my sympathy, but my mind was full of plans to wake him from his sleep.
Unaware, Nam Hae-su continued, "That's when I realized the limits of legal judgment. They'd drag out investigations, eliminate evidence and witnesses, then strut into court. Infuriating, isn't it?"
"Sure is."
"So I decided to seize real power. Invested in defense contractors to bolster national defense, trained private soldiers armed with conventional weapons."
"......"
The decisive reason I couldn't overpower Nam Hae-su with force—even now.
Move, and he'll shoot me on the spot.
Bringing his family wasn't carelessness or trust—it was confidence from absolute superiority! It also meant he'd scrapped his no-kill policy for me.
Still, "Are you happy with the results?"
My goal was persuasion. Subduing him by force would be easy, but it wasn't the only way.
"Hmm..."
He scowled at my question and downed his drink.
Glug.
His wife silently refilled the empty glass, and he downed another.
"I can tell from your face."
"You're definitely much younger than me."
"Correct."
"...I know it's immature for an elder to blame the young, but I was on the verge of keeling over from frustration! I just couldn't help it."
"Then go ahead."
It was amusing, how he tried to save face as the senior. After trying to kill me repeatedly?
And failing every time, now acting like he never vented? As if that'd fly.
"Why did you imitate me?"
"What do you mean...?"
"Don't play dumb! You competed in the Olympics as a swimmer and seduced Park Han-hee!"
I chuckled and replied, "I'm a swimmer in reality too. My records are actually great. You can't even make the Olympics without talent."
"...And Park Han-hee?"
"She confessed to me first and started following me around."
"Don't lie!"
"Drop the prejudice that if she dumped you, she'll dump everyone else."
"Kuh...!"
My flawless logic twisted Nam Hae-su's face.
"From the start, you're already married to another woman, yet you're trying to kill me out of jealousy. Isn't that just tyranny?"
"......"
"Or not?"
"...Han-hee is a good woman."
"Ah, yes."
Wouldn't his wife next to him feel slighted by that sudden comment? Pour.
"......"
She poured without a flicker—didn't seem fazed.
"If marrying another means giving her up, then change the law."
"Oh! That idea...!"
What a ridiculous notion.
"People might call it unethical. But look at this country's reality. Parents abandoning kids because life is too hard, or killing themselves irresponsibly—it's rampant."
"What..."
I could empathize a little, having similar experiences.
"Better for the wealthy to have more spouses, raise more kids. Right?"
"...Money doesn't guarantee good parenting."
"Wasn't trying to convince you."
"Ah, yes."
Totally dismissed.
"When all eyes are on the Olympic opening ceremony, Korea will cut out its rotten roots and be reborn!"
"...A rebellion?"
"Don't call it that. Say 'great revolution.'"
"Hmm..."
I glanced at the yacht bobbing on the sea.
If everything he said was true, he wouldn't be chatting with me all night at such a critical time. The moment business ended, snipers would riddle me with bullets.
"Athlete Kang Moon-soo. You have only one path to survival."
"What's that?"
"Help Han-hee fall for me."
Knew it.
"You serious?"
"Do I look like someone who'd joke in this situation?"
"Not what I meant."
"Then?"
"Park Han-hee—no, your wife—is already married to you. How am I supposed to help?"
"Not anymore."
"No. She still is. She's waiting for you to wake up, Nam Hae-su."
"......"
Nam Hae-su's eyes narrowed like a snake's as he stared at me.
"Forgot already? I told you I'm a shaman hired by the International Swimming Federation."
"Nonsense."
"It's not. You just won't admit it."
"Admit?"
I met his glare, fierce enough to bore through my face, and declared:
"This world is your dream."
"......"
"Nam Hae-su's delusion, his fantasy of changing history."
"...Lies."
"In reality, your heirs and the federation are fighting over the Swimming Emperor's fortune. Park Han-hee is watching from afar—"
"Lies...!"
Whoosh!
Furious, Nam Hae-su kicked back his chair and stood.
Here it comes...!
My instincts, honed from dying so many times, screamed. I twisted my body.
Pfft— Countless bullets grazed my skin, blood spraying.
"Nam Hae-su! Open your eyes... Huh?"
Nam Hae-su stood there, head pierced by a bullet.
Thud.
His body crumpled.
What the hell was happening?
"Oh my!"
His wife, silent until now, finally spoke. Her face showed no surprise.
Our eyes met, and she feigned terror.
"Save me! My husband was killed by athlete Kang Moon-soo!"
"Wah~!"
The newborn baby woke crying at his mother's shout.
"Not me— guh?!"
Bang! Ping! Bang!
The yacht's bullets targeted only me with pinpoint accuracy.
Why? The reason was obvious.
Betrayal!
This is insane...!
I didn't care that his wife and men had turned on him. The problem was?
"Nam Hae-su!"
"......"
I called desperately, but a man with half his head—including his brain—gone couldn't be alive.
What now? If I could go back to the past like Song Seon-yeong, it'd be a relief...
"Eek?!"
Kriiiik—
A chilling sound came from Nam Hae-su's sprawled body on the deck.
A familiar dread.
No way...?
And then, something unbelievable happened before my eyes.