Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Changing Times (3)
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After messing around with some shooting games at the company for a bit, my eyes started to feel sore before I knew it.
"Ugh... It's already been two hours."
It felt long if it was long, short if it was short. Back in my previous life, when I'd ruined everything and was living like a total shut-in, I'd play all day...
"Eh, this is boring."
Lately, I've been living a healthy life, so I guess I get tired of it quick. Sigh.
Especially fiddling with this godawful hardware—it just makes me want to build a computer. And since I'm actually at an age where I have the skills to develop one, it's even worse.
Shuma had 40KB of RAM, right? Makes me wanna skip straight ahead ten years.
-Tap tap tap.
I rushed to the full-length mirror I'd left in the office and checked my appearance. Aside from slightly dry eyes, there didn't seem to be any visible changes.
'Hmm, perfect as always today.'
Then I glanced at the president, who'd been playing games beside me.
"You handled the contract, right? Sure, the arcade industry looks like it's everything right now, but it'll change down the line."
He was still clinging to the Family Computer—Famicom, as they called it—and nodded.
"Ah, yes. We did. When I contacted Nin*endo first, they responded positively. The government regulations make it a bit tough still... but, well, with you here, young lady, it should be fine."
Exactly. When you have power, you can ignore petty regulations. That's what power is for, after all.
I straightened my tiny skirt with pats from my small hands and called for my secretary.
"Lee Si-hyeon, let's go."
Secretary Lee Si-hyeon quietly packed up my things and stood behind me.
"Yes, young lady."
She's loyal, sure, but kinda boring. I stared at her, thinking that.
"You never played games?"
At my words, Lee Si-hyeon looked flustered for a moment before shaking her head.
"Um... Yes. We couldn't afford it, and that kind of thing... it's not really for me."
"Unwholesome?"
I grinned playfully as I asked. Finally, she showed an interesting reaction.
"Ah, no. That's not what I meant."
"Just teasing, just teasing."
After chuckling, I stopped in my tracks, spun around, grabbed her hand, and dragged her to the game machine.
"Let's do a few more rounds of Pac-Man before we go. You join in this time."
"Pardon?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Despite claiming she'd never played, she got totally hooked on Pac-Man. No wonder this classic keeps popping up as a mini-game everywhere, even in remakes.
"Ah, ack!"
When the ghosts caught Pac-Man, Lee Si-hyeon made a pouty face.
"Alright, my turn. Move over."
-Click. Clack.
I casually racked up more than double her score. Smug as I stepped down, I looked at Lee Si-hyeon.
"Th-this time, I'll win."
I'd told her to have fun, not to win, but her competitive spirit had awakened. Normally, in areas she's good at, she'd make excuses and let me win while entertaining me.
'Hmm. Now it's getting interesting.'
One round. Two rounds.
As the games piled up, she even set my stuff down to focus.
"Ah! Th-this control didn't work! Ah!!"
-Bang!
Oh, shotgun.
As my secretary and bodyguard, she had a solid, athletic build from all her training, so her shotgun blasts were loud. Smiling to myself, I patted her firm shoulder.
"But you still lost."
"No, really, I had a good feel this time... Just one more..."
Seizing the moment, I stopped her. If we kept going, Lee Si-hyeon might dive headfirst down an irreversible path.
"Don't we need to head home? Look outside. Another hour's gone by."
"...Huh?"
Her eyes finally refocused as she looked around. The president, who'd been watching us, had sent all the employees home and was getting ready to leave himself.
I watched her with amusement.
"How was it?"
With a slightly dazed look, Lee Si-hyeon replied.
"It was... fun."
"No, I mean, how'd it feel losing to me?"
"...Frustrating?"
"And?"
"I wanted to win... I think."
I smiled and affirmed her words.
"Exactly. You want to win."
As I handed her my things one by one, I began my story.
"Games are fun because the rewards come quick and clear. And what you need to do to win is laid out plain as day."
That's why the people who say studying is fun are usually the ones who're good at it—and most of them lose interest when it gets tough.
Because the short-term results dry up.
"..."
"To me, the world looks like a game. I can see exactly what I need to do to get ahead. No matter the path, it's just a difference in distance—clear steps leading up like stairs."
That's why life is fun these days. If only there were a fast-forward button, but that's a bit much.
"That's weird."
She looked puzzled, staring at me oddly.
"What is?"
"You, young lady. How does an eight-year-old know all this?"
Well...
"Because I'm a genius."
That one word made all explanations and doubts fade away, leaving even Si-hyeon speechless.
"So you need to work harder too. If you're my secretary, you at least need to know what I'm thinking and what I want."
That's what I wanted to tell her today.
She's my person, after all. Shouldn't she strive to be better?
"I thought I'd been working pretty hard myself."
True. Climbing from the bottom to here makes Lee Si-hyeon impressive already.
"You need to work harder. Oh, sure, you've put in a decent effort so far. But not as much as you think. People's limits are higher than they imagine."
"..."
That must've pricked her pride—her brows furrowed briefly. Self-made people hate having their efforts or path denied.
Like I used to.
But since she knew my family situation and the schedule I've been handling for two years, she stayed silent.
Lately, I've been studying like a madwoman—anyone could see that. Probably on par with what she did prepping for a top university.
"What you've done is just hardship. I think calling it 'effort' when it's all pain with no results is wrong."
Pain without results. That's hardship.
"...I don't quite get it."
Lee Si-hyeon bit her lip with a half-understanding expression. I gave a simple analogy.
"You've studied a ton, so you know. Just staring at an open textbook isn't efficient. You need to take notes, summarize on paper—that's when results come."
"Yeah... true."
"Your efforts were like being born into a single-parent home and studying hard through school. Plus working as my secretary. That's it."
That's impressive, sure. I heard she was born without a father and supported her mom and sibling alone.
Not easy even for a man, but she pulled it off with her natural grit and talent.
But people like that are a dime a dozen. Dozens just in Daeha Group alone.
"You're saying there's more room to improve here?"
Now her question was pure curiosity, no defiance. I happily answered.
"How can you call digging dirt with a shovel 'effort' when there's a backhoe right there? That's just stupid. But people don't think that way about money or life."
"There are optimal paths in life too... And you can see them."
"Right. Ditch anything that brings no results and just wears you down. And... watch me. Follow me."
Most of life's trials are inevitable, but some people go looking for hardship because they can't tell it apart from effort.
They dig dirt pits with shovels, sweat buckets, and delude themselves they've achieved something great.
It's not their fault. No one opened their eyes, no one taught them.
Blinded by harsh years and ignorance, they miss the massive machine right beside them. Like Lee Si-hyeon now.
"...Still. Sometimes there are things you can't give up. Family, things like that."
Hmm. Sounds like a misunderstanding.
"You didn't think I was telling you to abandon your mom or something, right?"
"...Wasn't that it?"
Did she really think I'd turn my secretary into a heartless psychopath?
"No, you got it wrong. I mean there are often better options than pointless suffering."
Being so rigid isn't good.
It bugs me, for one.
And my mood is the absolute standard in this world. Money I can make over and over, but a bad mood lingers.
"Here. Take this. A gift. Enough for your mom's hospital bills and meds."
I pulled a check from my pocket and handed it over. Fifty million won—a huge sum for an entry-level worker in the '80s.
"Young lady... Why go this far...?"
Lee Si-hyeon's eyes trembled. As an ordinary person, big money sparked resistance first.
That's the problem.
"Hey, it's just fifty million. Chump change. If I tried, I could earn it in a day. I'd have given it the first day we met if you'd asked."
She stared blankly between me and the check.
"So all this time scrimping and saving... was just pointless hardship?"
"Exactly. I told you—effort, not hardship. Don't waste time pinching pennies. Focus on the future and supporting me. Got it?"
My first subordinate—gotta take her all the way.
In games, your first hire or character becomes your favorite. A little investment in upgrades, and you get a cost-effective carry to the end.
Plus, she's pretty. In a trash game without cosmetic skins, that's huge.
"Yes. Understood. And... thank you... young lady."
Lee Si-hyeon bowed deeply in gratitude. The woman who'd only seen one step ahead, swept by the era's tides, was finally looking at me instead.
She might not see the future like an extraordinary person, but who cares?
I'm already there ahead of her.
As long as she watches me, that's as good as seeing the future.
I smiled and stroked her cheek. The soft feel was nice.
"Good. Be even more grateful from now on. That's how you'll work hard and earn big."
People who can't adapt to changing times have no use for me.
And Lee Si-hyeon had adapted.