The Starting Point of a New Life

He's dead?

So what?

Whether that bastard dies or not has nothing to do with me.

"Ugh, Eunho oppa…! We have to hurry down to Busan…."

And Iseul telling me what to do is even less of her business.

"Han Iseul."

"Yes! Getting ready…"

"Don't cross the line."

"What…?"

"This isn't something for you to boss me around about. And who are you to contact that person? Don't overstep."

"……"

Iseul's eyes trembled as she looked at me. Her tightly pressed lips quivered, and tears welled up.

"I-I'm sorry…"

"……"

Wrapped in a thin blanket, Iseul fled the room like she was escaping, and I sank onto the bed with a sigh.

"Huu…."

Getting angry at Iseul and spitting out harsh words had been my mistake. But in that moment, I couldn't control my emotions.

Why?

I had clearly told him to his face. Even if he dies, I won't go to the funeral — and if I hear the news of his death, I'll drink in celebration.

But is this really celebratory drinking?

Gulp— gulp— gulp—

I drained the glass of strong whiskey I'd filled to the brim, then stood up abruptly and walked to Iseul's room.

Knock knock knock—

After a knock, the door opened a moment later.

"Phone."

"Th-thank you… And I'm sorry… I won't overstep again…"

"That was my fault. I was too harsh."

"No… I think I got too carried away…. Acting like I know anything… Thinking and deciding on my own…. I'm sorry…."

"Iseul."

"I… want some time to reflect today…."

"….Alright. See you tomorrow."

"Good night…"

Iseul's terribly sad ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠face disappeared through the closing gap of the door.

"Huu…."

Yeah. Let's just sleep. Don't get swept up in that person's death. He was never part of my life anyway. Someone just died, that's all. Someone who has nothing to do with me just died.

So tomorrow, I'll properly apologize first.

The next morning, the bottles and glasses had been cleaned away. Dried pollack soup simmered with a savory aroma, and Iseul greeted me with a smile.

"Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah. You too?"

"Yes! I'll have breakfast ready in a moment! Just wait a bit!"

"Hey, Iseul."

"Yes??"

"About yesterday…"

"I'm fine! I wasn't hurt at all!"

"Really…?"

"Yes! Of course, hehe~"

She really wasn't hurt? Even though she'd looked so sad yesterday? If she was acting to hide her sadness right now, she definitely had talent as an actress. Even I felt like nothing had happened.

"Is the soup to your taste?"

"Don't ask. It's always delicious."

"Hehe.."

"Ah, but there's one thing I'm curious about."

"What is it?"

"You've been going out every morning to paint, right."

"Yes."

"But why did you dress up so much to go?"

"Well…. I was painting at an art studio with friends who paint together…"

"So why?"

"I mean…."

"Did they look down on you for dropping out? Ignore you?"

"……"

Iseul didn't answer. But her expression said it all. Then I should stop by the art studio sometime — partly to apologize for yesterday.

"Oppa, after the meal I'm going to the supermarket — want to come with me?"

"No. Go alone today. I have an appointment."

"Ah…. Okay!"

Why answer so energetically? Is she thinking I'm going down to Busan?

No. Stop connecting everything to that. Just erase it from memory. Cleanly.

A contract sat before my eyes. But the tiny print was far too much to read line by line.

"No problems, right?"

"Of course. I'll explain only the key points of the important content."

Maybe it was because I was hearing such headache-inducing talk right after breakfast? Attorney Park Daehan's words weren't really sinking in. Still, I wasn't hesitant about signing the contract. Hanul Law Firm was one of the top five large law firms in Korea, and as a partner lawyer at such a firm, Park Daehan was capable and trustworthy enough.

"Now we just need the deposit."

"Before that, you should make a call. He'll be waiting for your call."

Park Daehan handed me a business card.

Integrity Tax Firm.

What an intuitive name.

"What should I call him?"

"Just call him Tax Accountant Kim Jeonghun. Integrity doesn't have separate ranks besides the representative."

"Understood."

He really had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠been waiting for the call. He picked up before the ringtone even finished once.

I hadn't known. I found out while having lunch with Attorney Park Daehan.

Choi Hyeonil PB, Attorney Park Daehan, Tax Accountant Kim Jeonghun. These three were friends.

"This is complete favoritism with work. Aren't you doing this a little too much through connections?"

"We recommended each other based on ability rather than connections, so please don't misunderstand."

"By the way, I'm envious. Staying close with middle school friends to this day. I don't really have friends like that."

"I feel the same, but Choi Hyeonil PB and Tax Accountant Kim Jeonghun are probably envious of you, Representative. Someone who's succeeded so absurdly at a young age."

"Success? Just a nouveau riche who struck it rich with one coin."

"I'm envious. Could you perhaps tell me just one coin?"

"You really want me to tell you?"

"No. If I do crypto again, I might become a divorce specialist lawyer."

"Ah… Hang in there."

"Yes. I'm living diligently. Steadily."

As soon as the light conversation over lunch ended, Tax Accountant Kim Jeonghun contacted me.

"What?? That much?"

"So to save on taxes, I'd have to mix in illegal methods for the acquisition?"

"Huu…. Then what choice is there. I'll just pay it."

The exact amount hadn't come out yet, but for acquiring Art Company for twenty-seven billion won, the taxes alone exceeded six billion. I needed to raise additional funds of under two billion, so it wasn't a problem — but why were the taxes this high?

"Unfair as hell… Still, good. Then should I buy Iseul a gift on the way home?"

It wasn't a gift bought as an apology. It was a gift bought as thanks.

I'd bought it at 19,320 won — now it was 23,184. The Solari Coin I'd dumped all twenty billion into out of shock because of Iseul had risen a full twenty percent. Profit so far: four ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠billion won.

If my cowardly nature had won out and I'd only invested thirteen billion, I'd have lost 1.4 billion.

"Maybe instead of a regular gift, I should give her coins? Thirteen thousand would be about three hundred million… Hmm… Hope this doesn't become a pair of wings and Iseul flies away?"

Should I test the waters first?

Sitting in a chair with my chin in my hand, I stared intently at Iseul cooking.

"M-Master… Dinner is all ready…."

"Iseul."

"Yes.. I understand…"

"Why are you taking off your clothes?! That's not what I meant!"

"Then what…?"

Iseul, who had been lowering her shoulder straps, pulled them back up and tilted her head, blinking. I worried that even testing her like this might make her feel bad — but it was better than giving it to her outright and having her fly away.

"If you got three hundred million, would you leave?"

"Leave where?"

"Here."

"Are you… kicking me out right now…? Because I overstepped…?"

"No! Absolutely not!"

"Then what…?"

"I want to give you some coins. It'll be about three hundred million."

"Three hundred million??"

"Yeah."

"Why would you give that to me??"

"Because of you, I made a lot of money. It could get even bigger."

"……"

Iseul tilted her head, thought for a moment, then took off only her apron and sat next to me.

"Eunho oppa."

"Yeah?"

"Instead of that money, could you give me something else?"

"What?"

"Tell me your story. I'll tell you mine too."

"It's three hundred million?"

"I don't care. I want to know more about you, oppa."

"You really don't want it?"

"Yes."

Her expression was very firm. Wanting to know about me more than three hundred million. A choice I would never make.

"So what story do you want to hear?"

"Everything. Everything you remember, oppa."

"Is this because of that dead person? Why things between me and him became like this?"

"I won't deny it. If it's overstepping, you don't have to tell me. Of course I don't need the three hundred million either."

"Huu…. Alright. I'll tell you."

It was a very long story. Iseul, listening intently, cried, got angry, suffered with me, grieved, and laughed with me.

Still, good. There had been things to laugh about in my life too.

"Then tell me your story now."

"Yes. I…."

Iseul's story was also very long. Unlike mine, though, it was a life I could mostly listen to with a warm smile — though it became terribly sad after her family fell on hard times.

Like that, we talked through the night and got to know each other better.

And the next morning, Iseul said she would go down to Busan. Her younger brother Ichan was being discharged, after all.

Of course, I didn't go.

I won't go.

Absolutely not.

Step— step— step— step—

I stopped mid-stride. And stood still, staring.

Clench..!!

I balled both fists.

"Huu…."

A deep sigh escaped my lips. But I put strength into both eyes and gazed with a resolute expression.

"If this fails, I lose at least sixty-five billion. I must succeed. Fighting! Fighting!!"

"……"

"……"

"……"

"I'm sorry… Please go in first. I'm sorry."

I bowed repeatedly, clearing the way for people. Then looked straight ahead again.

Art Company, and U-INVESTMENT.

This is the starting point of my new life.

I strode confidently into the building.