Chapter 37
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 37: Side Story - We Were Crazy Back Then
"Now, now! It's cheap if you come! You'll be disappointed if you leave!"
6th grade of elementary school, lunchtime. A ringing soliciting act echoed from the corner of the gym.
The owner of that voice is me, 13-year-old Seol Jin-hyuk. I was currently running the business of a lifetime.
The reason was simple and clear. I needed marriage funds.
My love, the other half of my soul.
Because she, 'PetitCheeseS2' in the game <Fairy Tale Run>, was waiting for my proposal.
I needed cash to buy the cash item [Officiant Item Set]. I couldn't touch Mom's wallet, so I had to earn it using my body, no, someone else's body.
"Hey, Jin-hyuk-ah. You're really going to make me faint?"
Just then, a classmate punk approached with eyes half full of doubt and half curiosity.
As soon as I saw the guy, I smiled triumphantly and put my arm around his shoulders.
"Dear customer, welcome."
"...Uh?"
"You're having a hard time running around cram schools these days, right? Your head hurts, the world spins, and Mom's nagging is tiring."
"Uh? Yeah... I guess."
I looked deeply into his eyes and started selling drugs (pitching my scam).
"What you need at times like that is exactly this. Rapid Brain Washing Service!"
"Brain... washing?"
"Yeah. For just 500 won. You just have to skip buying one rice cake skewer. With that money, I will perfectly reset your brain for 10 seconds. Pain? Not even 1%. When you open your eyes, the world will look in HD quality. Don't you want to feel that mind-blowing sensation?"
"Oh..."
The guy's pupils shook.
To elementary schoolers back then, 500 won was a huge sum of money that could buy one rice cake skewer or one Pikachu pork cutlet.
But the guy was already bewitched by my flashy eloquence.
"Isn't this dangerous?"
"Ay, that's disappointing to hear. I'm Seol Jin-hyuk. Jiu-Jitsu green belt. You know? Safety is my motto. The moment you faint, I'll catch you softly like a top-grade bed. You just have to entrust your body."
The guy swallowed his saliva, and took out a 500 won coin from his pocket.
"Here. Take it."
*Clink.*
The coin dropped onto my palm. Deal concluded.
"An excellent choice, dear customer. Now, turn around. Relax."
I went behind the guy's back. And with a very familiar and skillful form, I wrapped my arm around his neck.
[ Skill Name: Rear Naked Choke ]
A very scientific and efficient suppression technique that compresses the carotid artery to temporarily block blood flow to the brain.
"Now, going in. Inhale... exhale..."
I slowly, but surely put strength into my arm.
"1... 2... Relax dear customer, comfortably..."
The guy choked and grabbed my arm, but I was cold-hearted. This is business. Must provide certain service so complaints don't come in.
"...3... 4... Red Sun."
*Thud.*
Strength drained completely from the guy's body. His head dropped with a thud. Perfect blackout.
To prevent the collapsing guy from hitting his head on the floor, I grabbed his armpits and laid him down very smoothly on the floor.
"......"
Silence flowed in the gym. The eyes of the elementary school brats watching became as big as ping-pong balls.
"Wow... Crazy..."
"Isn't he dead?"
"Hey, see if he's breathing!"
The murmuring was only for a moment.
The guy lying on the floor suddenly opened his eyes exhaling rough breaths saying "Ku-huh-huk!"
I quickly grabbed his hand and pulled him up.
"Dear customer! Welcome back to reality! How is it, has your head cleared up?"
"...Wow. Dope. Saw stars. Really went to heaven and came back."
When the guy's vivid testimony burst out, the atmosphere reversed. Fear turned into curiosity, and curiosity into frantic enthusiasm.
"Hey hey! Me too! I want to try too!"
"Jin-hyuk-ah, I have 500 won!"
"Line up! I'm first! Move!"
Everyone rushed in holding crumpled bills and coins. What unfolded before my eyes was a feast of kids' pocket money.
I curled up the corners of my mouth and spread both arms like a cult leader.
"Line up! Gotta keep order!"
"Bastards without money go over there and just watch! It's a capitalist society!"
"Cheap, it's cheap!! For just 500 won, I'll give you a ride to the entrance of the River Jordan!!!"
That day, I bought the wedding ring. Of course, the next day I was called by the homeroom teacher and got beaten enough to really faint.
But that is a story for later.
Side Story <We Were Crazy Back Then> End
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