Chapter 36
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 36: Biological Older Sister
As soon as I came home, washed up roughly and sprawled on the bed until evening. Staring blankly at the ceiling, suddenly remembered the big event to be held tomorrow morning.
[ Course Registration ]
"Ah... annoying."
The assistant did explain it spitting saliva at the Welcome Party. Check server time, go to PC cafe and do it, click like crazy blah blah.
First, major required courses must be put in without even thinking. Otherwise can't graduate. The problem is electives...
Honestly a bit unfair.
Saying it's a world where being a man is a government post, no benefits for this? Even national merit recipients have benefits, shouldn't they give something like a 'Male-exclusive quota system' or 'Free pass registration ticket' for male students who are the hope for human preservation.
...Was thinking that, then suddenly a hollow laugh came out.
'I'm really... lacking conscience.'
Exempted from the military, full tuition fee waived, even plugging in monthly allowance (support fund). Now asking for a free pass on course registration too?
Saved a drowning guy and he asks for your bundle, no different from a robber.
That's exactly me.
"Because human greed is endless."
I shamelessly rationalized and skimmed the syllabus on my phone. Among numerous elective courses, exactly two courses caught my eye.
[ Understanding of Modern History ]
[ Sex and Love: Exploration of Male and Female Culture ]
Reason is simple.
First, need to know from when and by what occasion this damned world flipped like this.
Second, need to analyze by what sociological mechanism people's relationships roll in this deformed sex ratio imbalanced world.
They said if you know the enemy and know yourself you win every battle.
"Hmm..."
It was then.
*Ka-tok!*
"...?"
What is it?
Seems a bit trashy, but I turned off notifications for most people. Not to mention the department group chat, even younger sister's texts ringing every minute I already nailed down [Turn off notifications].
Because otherwise felt like I'd die catching a neurosis.
So unless a new personal text comes, my phone has no reason to ring. But it rang.
I lifted the smartphone. Four letters of the name appearing on the screen.
[ Ji-eun Noona ]
"...Older Sister?"
It was my big sister who became independent and lives out, Seol Ji-eun.
* * *
I have two lumps.
One is a younger brother 6 years apart, Seol Jin-hyuk. The other is the youngest sister 9 years apart, Seol Ji-hye.
As is the universal family form in this world, Mom received national support and was donated excellent genes from a sperm bank to give birth to us three.
Mom worked day and night to feed and raise three children alone. The head of the household was busy, and naturally parenting and chores fell to my share as the eldest daughter.
Since I was barely ten years old, I changed siblings' diapers with fern-like hands and mixed formula. Coming home from school, throwing the bag and taking care of siblings' meals first was daily life. Calling it Older Sister, but practically no different from a second Mom.
Maybe because of that. Regardless of youngest Ji-hye, Jin-hyuk was particularly uncomfortable with me.
It's a world where men are precious so he might have been pampered outside, but it was different inside the house.
Because I took full charge of discipline instead of busy Mom. Scolded when wrong, ignored when throwing tantrums. Because of that, to the punk I must have been a being like a 'Scary Manager' rather than Older Sister.
It got worse after I became an adult. After the punk started acting like a Hikikomori stuck in the corner of his room, he wouldn't even make eye contact with me.
Every time I went to the main house, the punk locked his room door pretending not to be there, and I didn't bother dragging him out either. Because it's tiring for both.
3 years since becoming independent and coming out. Contact? Of course not. Just reporting survival during holidays maybe? No cases where younger brother contacted me first.
It was right after showering after work and just opening a can of beer. The phone placed on the table vibrated.
[ Cutie Seol Ji-hye ]
Almost choked on beer as soon as I saw the name appearing on the screen. It was my youngest sibling, Seol Ji-hye.
I hurriedly pushed the can aside and cleared my throat.
*Click.*
"Yeah~ Ji-hye-ya. What's up?"
Answered the phone with the most friendly and wholesome tone possible.
— Ah... Older Sister what are you doing?
The voice heard over the receiver was strangely lacking energy.
"Me? Ah... Just resting at home."
To say "Older Sister is opening canned beer alone miserably" to younger sibling, my face doesn't stand. I naturally changed the topic.
"What is Ji-hye doing? Cram school finished?"
— No, home. Came in earlier and resting.
"Came in early huh?"
— Yeah... that, actually went to Older Brother's studio apartment a bit earlier during the day.
"Jin-hyuk's?"
I twitched my eyebrow. Went to that Hikikomori punk's studio apartment? Did he even open the door?
"For what reason? Does he open the door?"
— That... just. Had some business staying nearby so went... while at it...
Ji-hye trailed off. -Actually stormed in yesterday worried about Older Brother, got head smashed with toy hammer at entrance and received disciplinary punishment all night wasn't enough... eventually slept together hugging Older Brother tight, that fact she couldn't say even if she died.-
"Yeah? Saw his face?"
— Yeah.
"How is Jin-hyuk doing these days?"
I asked pretending to be indifferent, but was curious inwardly. When I talked on the phone with Mom not long ago, Mom said with a very excited voice.
'Ji-eun-ah, do you know? Jin-hyuk became a completely different person! Eats meals well, answers back properly... Anyway he changed a lot I say?'
Honestly I was half in doubt.
A person, and a mushroom-like bastard taking root in the corner of a room for years at that, changes overnight?
"Mom said he changed quite a lot. Is it true? Not stuck in the corner of room crying again?"
At my question, silence flowed over the receiver for a moment. Obvious signs of Ji-hye hesitating.
— Yeah... He did change quite a lot.
"How? Does he even prepare meals alone?"
— No, not to that extent... mm...
Ji-hye hesitated, then started listing words that completely didn't match front and back.
— Cool and... reliable and... sometimes seems crazy but... then caring? Don't know.
"......?"
Cool and reliable but crazy bastard? What kind of hybrid is that. I'm the one who drank, why does it seem she is rambling. Either heavily blinded by love (Kong-kkak-ji), or Jin-hyuk really became weird, one of the two.
— If Older Sister is really curious too, try contacting him once later if possible.
"Contact?"
— Yeah. Contacting will be faster
"......Uh, yeah. Got it. Go in safely."
Hung up the phone, and I fiddled with the cooling beer can.
Contact huh. Easy to say, honestly a bit burdensome.
Been quite a while since having a proper conversation with the punk after leaving house. No, safe to consider living almost like strangers. Raised him changing diapers when young, but after his head grew thick and locked room door, became a relationship uncomfortable beyond awkward.
'Funny to suddenly call and ask if he ate too.'
I sighed and turned on the phone screen again.
"Calling is a bit much right now... should I try sending a simple text at least."
[ Me ] (20:22)
: Jin-hyuk-ah
: Jin-hyuk-ah
: Doing well these days?
Looked at it for a long time even after pressing the send button. Too stiff? Or too out of the blue?
"...Well, this should be enough."
Honestly didn't expect a reply. Seol Jin-hyuk in my memory, no, most men in this world evade first when such contact comes.
Pretending not to see even after reading, or sending a crawling reply saying 'Saw it just now...' days later. Especially if it's a punk who lived stuck in a room corner, it's normal to get scared of Older Sister's sudden greeting text and hide under the blanket.
I was about to turn the phone over.
It was then.
*Ka-tok!*
Cheerful notification sound. Reply came immediately like a lie.
[ Loser ] (20:23)
: Older Sister what's up?
: Older Sister what's up?
: Doing well
"......?"
I stared down at the screen blankly.
What?
Not read-chew, not unread-chew. Not even a short answer.
'Older Sister what's up?' he asks. Asking for the business first? And in 1 minute?
Didn't run away. Didn't hide either. A very ordinary, and too normal reaction of a member of society.
Got goosebumps rather at that unfamiliar attitude.
'Did he... know how to speak human words?'
Wondered if it's the timid and weak younger brother punk I knew. Hacked by any chance? Or did the person change living alone? No, should I have recognized it from the time a boy said he's moving out to live alone in the first place.
I glared at the screen for a moment, then typed again. As much like an older sister, and naturally as possible.
[Me] (20:23)
: Heard classes start next week
: Heard classes start next week
: Wondering if you need anything by any chance
Send. And as the read mark didn't disappear after 1 minute passed, sent one more out of unknown impatience.
[Me] (20:24)
: Okay these days?
Felt a bit embarrassed after sending. A relationship where we don't even check life or death normally, suddenly acting like the most affectionate older sister in the world. Expected the punk to feel burdened and read-chew, or cut off the conversation saying 'Okay...'.
But.
*Ka-tok!*
[ Loser ] (20:24)
: Yep money
: Yep money
: Some allowance
"......"
Asked if he's okay and he says 'money' without any bottom or end. Where did the timid loser who couldn't even speak up gauging moods go, and what shameless robber is sitting there?
Normally would have cursed first saying "Crazy? Work part-time and use it!". Strangely didn't feel bad.
Rather... felt relieved.
Because rather than avoiding and hiding, demanding confidently like this looked much more human.
'...But, wait.'
Trying to press the transfer button, suddenly had a doubt.
He gets male support funds right?
What kind of country is this country. A country that can't use its limbs (goes crazy) for men. Men who become adults have support funds plugged in every month regularly under the grand pretext of 'Contribution to Human Preservation'.
The amount is not small either. Honestly speaking, enough comes out to play and eat without working for life if you don't act luxurious. Means money plugs into the bank account every month just by breathing.
Money overflowing to use while living alone as a college student. Receiving money that leaves change even after paying rent, buying food, and cashing in games... asking for allowance from an older sister who is a societal newbie?
'...Really a bastard with burst conscience.'
Support fund is support fund, and Older Sister's money is Older Sister's money, is that it? Belly must be full to bursting point.
But I chuckled and entered the banking app password.
"Yeah. Better to be a snob."
Because a shameless snob seeking money is a hundred, thousand times better than getting depression and being stuck in a room corner. Money I earn anyway, spending it on my precious younger brother what's to waste.
[ Me ] (20:25)
: How much.
Reply came in 1 second.
[ Loser ] (20:26)
: As much as you can give.
: As much as you can give.
: (KF Kookmin XXX-XXXX...)
"Ha..."
Hollow laugh popped out from being dumbfounded. I entered [500,000 won] and pressed the transfer button.
[ Me ] (20:28)
: Sent.
: Sent.
: Don't spend on weird things and buy food. Spend sparingly.
[ Loser ] (20:28)
: Thxthx
: Thxthx
: Salute^^7
Look at that emoticon state. I shook my head and put down the phone.
500,000 won evaporated instantly, but didn't feel bad. He definitely changed a lot.
The guy who couldn't even make eye contact before, demanding allowance so shamelessly like this. Should I say social skills improved, or face became thick.
"Well, as long as he acts like a human."
Was just about to go wash up thinking that.
*Ka-tok!*
Cheerful notification sound rang again. Asking for money again?
I frowned and picked up the phone. But what appeared on the notification window wasn't a message, but a [Deposit Notification].
[ KF Kookmin Deposit: 470,000 won (Seol Jin-hyuk) ]
"......?"
I doubted my eyes. Out of the 500,000 won I just sent, 470,000 won returned. With exactly 30,000 won missing.
What is this...?
The punk's message popped up immediately.
[ Loser ] (20:30)
: My love
: Will eat chicken well
: My love
: Will eat chicken well
: Thanks
"......"
Chicken price. Deducted exactly the money to order and eat one chicken and sent it back.
"Huh..."
Speechless. Usually men consider receiving allowance from Older Sister or Mom as natural. No, they are anxious they can't get more. But this guy spat back the given money. Along with the goosebumps-inducing line 'My love' at that.
A corner of my chest felt strangely ticklish. Grew up, my younger brother.
"...Punk."
I chuckled and turned off the phone. Seems Mom's words were right. The punk changed. In a very good way.
"Should call him once after work tomorrow."
After a long time, wanted to hear my younger brother's voice.
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