Chapter 77
I'd always thought that if you die in a dream, your real-world physical abilities just take a noticeable hit. So when Nam Hae-su got offed by his wife and subordinates' betrayal, I figured he'd wake up without much fuss. But nope.
He actually died...!
The shock hit me hard. Sure, he'd tried to kill me in the dream, but that was just a dream. A dream's a dream. Even if I'd been murdered there, I had no intention of carrying that grudge into reality and going after his life.
For example, I hated Magic Boy Choi Kang-min enough to want him dead, but I'd wiped him from my mind by now. Because it was all just a dream, in the end. Same went for Nam Hae-su.
“Kang Moon-soo. As expected, you're young.”
“......”
“I wanted to pass on my deepest thanks to you.”
“...What for?”
The video letter he'd left me played out as a one-sided monologue.
“I've done a lot of shameful things that I'm too embarrassed to admit out loud. And you know that better than anyone.”
“Ah, yeah.”
I can guess.
“So, as shameless as it is, keep my story a secret.”
“Nah, pass.”
I planned to tell Seo Hye-ju, who was researching dreams.
It's not like I'd blab for any other reason...
I had no intention of slandering the dead without cause. No one would believe it anyway. Best case, I wouldn't get sued for defamation by the grieving family if it got dragged out.
“And I have a favor to ask.”
Here it comes...
“The place where we last met. My secret's hidden there.”
“Aha!”
Did his private resort hold some special meaning?
He explained the exact location in detail.
“I hid it in the lowest spot, where no one could find it.”
“Where's that?”
“A black cubic box the size of a baseball.”
“......”
Suddenly, it all felt like a hassle.
“It's up to you to decide what to do with it once you see it.”
“...Sure.”
If I can find it.
“Not much time left.”
“......”
“No need for a young guy like you to blame yourself. This was my immature mistake. I'm truly sorry. For ruining your shot at the Olympics after all your hard prep.”
“I'm sorry too.”
A twinge of regret. If only he'd talked before dragging it out, before the Olympics...
“From up in the heavens, I'll pray for you to compete in the real Olympics.”
“...Thank you.”
“Ahh, what a wonderful dream it was. Mugunghwa three thousand ri... Republic of Korea... forever...”
Click.
The Swimming Emperor gazed at the distant sky and slowly closed his eyes.
* * *
Nam Hae-su, the Swimming Emperor who held the world record for most swimming medals. After a long battle with illness, he passed leaving a will behind. Throngs of people flooded his funeral.
“May the deceased find eternal peace...”
“Sob sob!”
“Eternal peace.”
His will donating all his wealth to society drew even famous politicians and celebrities with no connection to him.
Official cause: heart attack. Analysis pinned it on his weakened body from prolonged illness.
On the surface.
“A long battle with illness...”
Could you call being trapped in a blissful dream—never waking—an 'illness'? A disease that kept you happy until death.
Who knows.
“Regret diving into that dream?”
“...No.”
Nam Hae-su's state funeral at Elmolrans Hospital's funeral hall. The venue, reserved for globally recognized figures, had reopened after ages.
“Know why this hospital's funerals are so rare?”
“Not interested.”
“It means they save every patient—no need for funerals.”
“They really never die?”
“Of course they do. A patient fresh out of major surgery once dropped dead the second a college senior visited.”
“Why?”
“Sudden death from hypertension. Excitement triggered it.”
“......”
“What? Don't believe me? True story.”
“So Elmolrans lied about their record.”
“Call it marketing.”
Mourners streamed endlessly into the hall. Parking lot full, cars lined the roadside.
What a contrast.
My father's pathetic death had an empty, shabby funeral. Relatives, friends, classmates, teachers... barely anyone signed the guestbook.
“Too bad Nam Hae-su couldn't see this turnout.”
“Thanks to you.”
“Me?”
“He got to leave a will. Without waking, it'd have been some rich guy's quiet fade-out.”
“Not necessarily a good thing.”
The will returning all wealth to society left his empty-handed family looking grim. All but one.
Park Han-hee, Nam Hae-su's wife, had a serene, wrinkled face.
...She looks just like her.
Her youthful beauty faintly peeked through the aged lines.
“Moon-soo.”
“Yes.”
“League sent unofficial thanks.”
“They're high and dry too?”
“Funding's cut as you said, but we preserved the honor of their biggest patron, Nam Hae-su.”
“Honor... Beats me.”
Money's king, right?
Seo Hye-ju gave me a wry smile.
“Plenty stake their lives on honor.”
“Like you, ma'am?”
“Yep. Got me in hot water, blinded by it.”
She shuddered, recalling her seven years as Choi Kang-min's doctor—modern medicine useless against him.
“Heading out first.”
I turned from watching the funeral afar.
“Already?”
“Hard to keep staring...”
“Hm?”
“Did some embarrassing stuff in his dream too.”
“Like what?”
“You know.”
I'll take the secret of dating a grandma who's seen her great-great-grandkids to my grave!
* * *
He'd pledged all assets to society, but Nam Hae-su wasn't single. Park Han-hee—his long-time spouse—had rights too.
Wealth accumulated post-marriage: half to the 'spouse.' Same for ex-model Park Han-hee.
Bottom line? Half their combined real estate, stocks, bonds go to charity.
“Kang Moon-soo.”
“Yes.”
“A secret hidden on this island?”
“Yes, ma'am!”
I briskly answered the wheelchair-bound Park Han-hee.
How'd I end up like this?!
Cause: the video letter. Personal to me, but an assistant helped film it.
No such thing as perfect secrets.
“We honeymooned here.”
“I see.”
“Am I inconveniencing you?”
“No. Just worried you'd skip guarding your husband's funeral.”
“I trust the kids. They wouldn't abandon their mom too.”
“Ah, yes.”
I shut up before delving into family drama.
Splash splash~
Amid the resort's cool waves, I scanned around.
The lowest spot...
We'd flown here—the priciest public transport—for Nam Hae-su's secret. Park Han-hee tagged along, claiming fairness in splitting hidden assets.
“Wonder what he hid at our honeymoon spot.”
“...Yeah.”
That he'd told me, not his wife, felt off.
“Looking at that sea brings it back. As a model then, I focused on photoshoots over honeymooning.”
“...Regrets?”
“None.”
Park Han-hee denied it flatly, no hesitation.
“......”
“Think I'm too much?”
“No.”
I just couldn't grasp why Nam Hae-su obsessed over this wife.
“The photoshoot was my husband's demand.”
“Pardon...?”
What?
“To brag about marrying a beautiful model.”
“...That bastard— ahem! Nam Hae-su really did that?”
“He did.”
“......”
“Couldn't enjoy a peaceful honeymoon with crowds and cameras trailing me all day.”
“No idea.”
My pre-dream research painted Nam Hae-su perfect: Swimming Emperor, devoted husband, happy family, patron of juniors. Kids fought over inheritance? Bound to happen with that much cash.
All a facade...!
Explains picking a dream to relive his past. Regret.
Maybe he hated his real self so much he didn't reincarnate as 'Nam Hae-su.' Like Kim Eun-jeong, sick of her plain looks, becoming a stunning countess.
Dream worlds bend to the protagonist's will—not witches.
“Kang Moon-soo.”
“Yes.”
“Handsome up close. My type, even in old age.”
“Th-thank you!”
I knew it was typical granny banter, but from her, I couldn't brush it off lightly.
“Lowest place. Odd. Island's all flatland...”
“Abstract expression?”
“Like?”
“If he hid something here, he came alone.”
“He traveled a lot.”
“Ma'am, any spot 'lowest' comes to mind?”
Might as well get her help since she was here.
“Asking 'cause I'm his wife?”
“Yes.”
“Think opposite. The video to you was coded for you alone. I didn't even know our last meeting was the honeymoon spot.”
“Ah...”
Made sense.
“You know the exact hideout. Either haven't realized... or pretending for my sake.”
Park Han-hee eyed me sharply.
“...Probably.”
“Admitting it?”
“Yes. I think I know what Nam Hae-su meant. Could be wrong.”
No one could find it: lowest spot. But this was a resort.
No tourist-free corners.
Yet one blind spot from tourist eyes.
“Where?”
“In the video's end, he said it's my call on disposal.”
“Don't worry. If no monetary value, I'll drop it clean.”
“Liar.”
“Rude...”
“Han-hee confessed to me: she trembles her right foot when lying. Ask sis if you don't believe.”
“......”
Park Han-hee's right foot shook in the wheelchair.
“Couldn't kick the habit, huh.”
“Only hubby and sis knew... Now just you.”
“Can't exclude the aide pushing your chair.”
Her secretary's restrained movements screamed more than assistant.
Bodyguard too, probably.
Maybe packing traditional weapons under that flowing skirt. Trauma from Nam Hae-su's dream—made me suspect everyone.
“Felt off when he sent you that personal-code video.”
“Can see why.”
We strolled the resort's scenic path.
For how long? End was near.
“Never confessed first to a man in my life...”
“I know.”
She'd said it was her first time confessing to a guy.
“Kang Moon-soo, who the hell are you?”
“Nam Hae-su asked the same.”
“...Did he?”
“Yes.”
Not just him. Every dream protagonist I'd met asked identically.
And my answer was always, “A shaman.”
Nam Hae-su's dream hadn't ended yet.