Around Chuseok
AVs are amazing machines. They cut a four-hour drive down to just over an hour. Thanks to that, I'd been at the southern tip of the peninsula just this morning, but now, right around lunchtime, here I was in Pyongyang.
"A month already... Pyongyang."
The day I'd possessed Ko Mu-yeol and come up to Pyongyang was August 24th, and today was September 28th. Barely a month and change had passed. In that short time, I'd fucked five main jotjips, a dozen or so beastly ones, and over a hundred miscellaneous pussies whenever the mood struck. Hell, I'd even gotten my own exclusive knight. And the game's original heroine to boot. Though she was still in training, so no real use out of her yet.
The Goryeo Group's power is insane.
I could really feel the weight of Goryeo's influence now. They'd turned a worthless fuckup into someone who could rampage freely, all because he was "the young master of the group." And you could see the Goryeo Group's prestige just by looking out the window at Pyongyang's skyline. Skyscrapers everywhere, and a good chunk of them housed offices of companies tied to Goryeo, either through partnerships or otherwise. It'd be the same outside Pyongyang too. The true extent of Goryeo Group's reach across Korea—no, all of Asia—might be something even Chairman Go Yeong-man himself didn't fully grasp. Hell, I sure didn't have a clue.
The game's lore was just too half-assed from the start.
The concept was a "colossal corporation shrouded in mystery," complete with evil vibes. The devs claimed they'd left it vague on purpose for "mystique" and extra intimidation, but that sounded like bullshit. They probably just didn't bother fleshing it out. The game was a total flop—shitty optimization, bugs galore, mismatched settings mashed together. No way those hacks put real thought into the lore. Anyway, that's why the game only dropped fragments, and I had to rely on Ko Mu-yeol's memories. Problem was, the asshole was a junkie, so they weren't much help.
In other words, ...looks like the shut-in loser me has to figure it all out.
Ugh. My stomach was churning again.
Bzzz.
Lost in thought, the AV touched down on the AV pad at Geumsu Mountain Sun Palace. Secretaries who'd gotten the word were already lined up on both sides, waiting for me to step out.
Whirr.
The door slid open, and they all bowed at a crisp ninety degrees.
"“Welcome, Young Master Ko Mu-yeol.”"
I stepped out holding the Go board wrapped in cloth.
"There's a coffin inside—handle it carefully."
"Yes, Young Master."
It might've seemed random, ordering them to move a coffin out of nowhere, but they didn't question it. They just pulled it from the AV and carried it off with care.
"You've arrived, Young Master."
Leading the swarm of secretaries toward the Sun Palace's main gate, I spotted the same secretary from a month ago waiting with a kindly smile.
"The Chairman is inside."
"Already?"
"When he heard you'd be arriving early, he canceled all his appointments."
Damn, really? That felt a bit heavy.
Still, not a bad sign. Means he's happy to see me, right?
Giving me an exclusive knight, seeing me off the drugs and hustling around—it must've eased his anger. No need to worry too much. Plus, what I had in hand right now? 'The junkie grandson who always gave you grief suddenly cleans up, quits the drugs, starts busting his ass at something, and then Chuseok rolls around so he brings a gift tailored just for Grandpa's tastes?' No one could resist that. Even I'd melt if I were him.
"That coffin back there—it's Master Han Guk-young's remains, so keep it safe."
The secretary paused, eyes widening. He'd caught on quick.
"...That Han Guk-young? From fifty years ago?"
"Yeah. Tracked down the remains by chance and brought them back. Figured Grandpa would love it. You can verify the identity, but it's definitely him."
"Then that cloth wrap...?"
I lifted it slightly.
"The Go board he used right up to the end."
"Oh...! So this is the one he got as a pro entry gift—the board Master Han Guk-young used for over twenty years!"
The secretary didn't doubt me for a second. He just nodded, amazed.
"Yep. Bitter, but I found it with the remains. Looks like he spent his final days... still playing Go."
He kept nodding in awe, then snapped to.
"Ah! Sorry, Young Master. Got lost there for a sec. Please, come in."
I nodded lightly and followed him. Walking through the Sun Palace's opulent halls, I steadied my nerves.
...I'm tense as hell.
A month ago, I hadn't given it much thought. Probably because it hadn't sunk in yet. I'd possessed the body and gotten summoned right away. But now...
I was shaking a little.
The Chairman of Goryeo Group.
This body's grandpa. I needed to make a good impression.
"Anyone else here ahead of me?"
"Ah, Vice President Go Min-young has been staying at the palace since yesterday. She had business in Pyongyang."
"Ah... Vice President Go Mi—er, Aunt Go Min-young is here."
Go Min-young. President of Militaris and Goryeo Group Vice Chairman. Go Min-ji's mom. Nothing scandalous leaked out about her, but considering her psycho daughter, she wasn't one to take lightly.
Better avoid her if I can.
Just drop off the gift. Hand it to Grandpa and bolt to my room. Hang out low-key tomorrow, then on Chuseok proper Wednesday, eat and dip.
Stay as under the radar as possible.
"Nephew?"
So much for that plan—I was made right away.
"Vice President."
The secretary spun toward the voice and bowed.
Click-clack.
Heels echoed. Then her voice hit me from behind.
"Can't even remember the last time I saw you. Off the drugs, huh? Looking way better."
I took a small breath and turned.
"Aunt, I hope you've been well."
"...Gonna live forever at this rate. Getting such polite greetings from my nephew."
She was tall. 180 cm? Easy. Trailed by a pack of tall, slender secretaries, but she didn't look dwarfed at all. A smidge shorter than me. And her beauty rivaled any actress. Considering she was Go Min-ji's mom, she had to be in her forties at least, but she could've passed for mid-twenties.
"Guess the sun's rising in the west tomorrow."
"Haha... Guess I've been pretty rude to you all this time. Sorry."
"Got some cheek on you too."
She glanced at Baek Seol.
Baek Seol bowed silently.
"This her?"
"Yes. My exclusive knight, Baek Seol."
"Hmm~."
She scanned her up and down, then lost interest and looked back at me.
"Heard the reports. That was some nasty prank."
"Pardon?"
Whoosh.
She leaned in close, whispering in my ear.
"What if you wreck a guy's dick like that?"
"...!!"
"Must've crushed him. Didn't even get to stick it in once."
"A-Aunt?"
She pulled back.
"Think of the money and time to train one knight. Next time, no pranks without permission. I'll get you toys if you need 'em."
"Ah... Thank you. I'll be careful."
She checked her wristwatch. A wristwatch in this era. Owners really loved their analog shit.
"You heard about the dedicated fighter and armament from Min-ji. Come visit sometime. Let's have a nice long chat, you and me."
What chat? What did an aunt and nephew have to chat about at length?
Not keen on that...
...Just polite chit-chat, right? Like 'let's grab a meal sometime.'
"Yes. I'll visit soon."
"Good. Suits you, being all proper. Eaten yet?"
"Not yet."
She glanced at my wrapped board.
"Go see Father quick, then eat."
"Yes. Enjoy your meal too, Aunt."
"Sure."
With that, Go Min-young brushed past. Barely a few words, but it felt like a storm had blown through.
Ah. Drained already. And I'd have to deal with shit like this over and over?
"Whew."
I headed back toward Grandpa's room.
The corridor was lined with the statues and paintings I'd seen a month ago on the way back from snagging that 100-billion Goryeo Entertainment deal. Finally, the massive door.
The guiding secretary bowed and stepped back. The one at the door relayed the message inside.
And soon—creak.
The door opened.
What kind of grandson should I play? Serious and dignified? Or upbeat?