Chapter 2
Chapter 2
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Reborn as the Chaebol Family's Youngest Granddaughter
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I was reborn as the youngest granddaughter of a chaebol family.
I could roughly guess why. Last night, while browsing communities, I got captivated by a character build meme that caught my eye by chance.
I commented asking where the original was from... and received a suspicious link.
I definitely felt a strong regret after that... but I don't remember what happened next clearly.
Damn it. I should never have clicked on an unknown link.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ But there's one problem. I can't remember what traits I picked.
For starters, it's definitely not a fantasy setting. It was a modern background exactly like reality, so there won't be any fantasy drifts like gates opening midway. It's a relief that I can use future knowledge.
Oh, right. Immortality—Longevity, that is—I picked that. It's the absolute basic of basics. Immortality might sound fantastical, but it's an unavoidable instinct.
I seem to have Perfect Memory too. Ever since reincarnating, all my memories have been crystal clear. Strangely, though, the memories of picking traits or my original identity are hazy. I probably chose a drawback like that.
A trait that makes me immerse in this life rather than my previous one... That sort usually counts as a drawback, so it probably gave extra points.
Anyway.
Born in 1978. The youngest granddaughter of Daeha Group’s founder, who was around 2nd or 3rd in the business world in my previous life. Yoo Ha-yeon.
That's me now.
"Mm..."
-Stretch.
Her soft cheek stretched tautly. The cute little girl in the mirror had her eyes wide open, poking at her own cheek in wonder.
Black hair. Black eyes. Aside from being pretty, she was just an ordinary human girl.
-Prod.
Even scrunching up her face a bit, a five-year-old's body only made her look cuter.
>
She was cute enough to want to bite, but thinking that was me made it impossible to calm down.
'Let's read a book.'
-Flip.
I turned the thick textbook with my soft, chubby hand. The jumble of text pressed in on me, but fortunately, my brain had become sharper after the TS.
-Rustle, rustle.
"Hmm... Not this one either... I thought Dad's study would have it. No good books here."
-Thud.
'I've already read them all.'
I closed the book and let out a small sigh.
The world was unbearably boring to me right now. It was still the 1980s, so it was very different from the world I knew.
At first, since I'd TS'd and been born into a rich family— I hadn't realized it was a chaebol back then—I tried to go the standard TS route of becoming an internet broadcaster...
But turns out it's still the 1980s. And there was no internet yet in the 1980s.
God. No internet. For someone like me whose 21st-century memories were fading, it was impossible to adapt.
At least there are computers, but considering the first all-in-one PC came out in '77, it's still a ways off.
"Heave-ho."
I roughly put away the book I was reading and pulled out another one nearby. This time, it was an economics book.
-Thump.
It was too heavy for a five-year-old like me, but considering my mental age, it was readable.
"Oh dear. Miss, do you like books that much?"
The Nanny, who took care of me in place of my late mother, smiled at me.
To her, it probably looked like a baby playing with a book she couldn't understand. Or maybe precociousness from lack of affection.
Neither was actually the case.
"...Huh? Yeah! I like them!"
I brushed it off with some childlike cheer. Living like this had improved my acting skills quite a bit.
She looked at me with pity.
"...Miss. Your father will be here soon, so you need to come out of the study by then?"
"Dad's not coming today either. I know. It's better if he doesn't..."
I replied curtly. There was no corner to grow attached to in this life's family.
He only came to beat me for ridiculous reasons. Why was it my fault Mom died?
"...I'm sorry, Miss."
I shook my head and dove back into the book. The content itself wasn't hard, but most textbooks were in English, making it a bit tough.
Mankiw's Principles of Economics' first Korean edition was still over ten years away? The 1980s were truly a horrific era.
...Sigh. Honestly, I didn't want to live like this either. Who'd expect to be flipping through textbooks after reincarnating into a chaebol family?
But at this age, I couldn't mix with kids and play. If there was at least internet, maybe, but there's nothing like that now.
The TV they occasionally turned on was somewhat watchable, but it didn't match my tastes either.
In the end, only books were left. I'd been quite the bookworm in my previous life, so it wasn't a hard hobby to stick with. Once my body grows properly later, I won't have time with rolling money and playing around, so I need to cram now.
'...Anyway. I need to get out of this house somehow soon.'
It wasn't just because I hated being abused by this life's dad. It was to use my most precious resource—time—effectively.
Depending on how I act and invest, the world will change. So all this is groundwork for enjoying a happy internet life ASAP.
PC communications are starting to come to Korea, but honestly, aren't they too outdated? I want to watch YouTube in 1080p.
The only appeal of Hitel is directly witnessing Dragon Raja and Eye of the Dragon serialization.
"..."
Wow.
Thinking about it, that sounds pretty good. If I play it right, I could draw tons of attention on communities with stuff like "Eye of the Dragon ending predictions."
No. Wait. Dragon Raja serializes starting in 1997. That matches the 1997 financial crisis, commonly called the IMF era. I think that's when internet really spreads too.
And by 1997, I'll already be a college freshman. No internet until then? That's ridiculous.
Besides, that's no reason I can't accelerate tech development.
I'll somehow go to America, commercialize the internet as fast as possible, multiply money through investments. Then... obviously, happy Chaebol Third Generation life.
Splurging money, surrounded by girls... Guess I can't do that anymore. I'm a girl now too.
Anyway.
My mother died giving birth to me, and my father is a wastrel wandering outside because of her death, but I'm a member of one of Korea's top chaebol families.
Chairman Yoo Seong-pil—my grandfather—values family highly, so if I just live moderately, I'll get enough money to live off forever.
What kind of group is Daeha Group?
Daeha Group fell a bit in rankings due to the Princes' Rebellion, but originally, it was Korea's largest conglomerate dominating the world semiconductor market.
Now in 1983... less than a year left, huh.
Fortunately, this life's father, Yoo Jin-cheol, is a deadbeat dad but also a Hollywood movie buff. I heard my late mother was an actress too, and he's very into American movies.
More than his own daughter, even.
So, to avoid the Princes' Rebellion, I'll follow Dad to America moderately, roll some money, then return in glory. Especially when Bitcoin rises, I'll copy money like crazy.
Perfect life plan.
Going abroad isn't appealing, but no choice.
Fortunately, I got this miraculous body that doesn't die naturally unless murdered, doesn't age... but if I don't age past 40, who knows where I'll get dragged off to.
Appropriate money and power are essential for surviving in a chaebol family.
Then, I'll live doing only what I want forever.
Like those internet streamers or vtubers from novels I read often.
Thinking about it, do I really need to do internet broadcasting? Still, wasting this pretty body would be a shame. Even if the guy inside doesn't want to date men.
'Can't be an actress or celebrity because of family atmosphere.'
Hmm. Movie director sounds good. Or game company president?
Honestly, I'd like to try politics once, but nah. Even if it's only during elections, I hate bowing to others.
Anyway.
In my previous life, I did all sorts of crazy things because I wanted money so bad, but life round two has a great starting point except for gender change and parents.
"Hehe."
A small laugh escaped at the bright future. Seeing my beaming smile, the Nanny naturally smiled back.
"Miss. I'll prepare dinner. Books are great, but you should rest while reading."
Ah. Dinner time already?
"Yes."
-Pat pat.
The house was unnecessarily spacious. Cold air lingered in the empty spaces.
I ate alone at the empty dining table, thinking.
Hmm.
If I keep top of the school from now on, will they think of me as a promising talent like in those chaebol stories where chairmen scout kids?
Who knows.
I'm a girl, after all.
This era is still conservative, and chaebol families especially so. They might not even consider me for inheriting shares.
Honestly, since I'm reincarnated, I'd like to try being a chaebol chairman, but reality's walls are high, so I'd already given up on the family power struggle early.
There were plenty of other paths for me.
Why bother with family fights when I can easily make hundreds of billions rolling stocks and coins in America? Why leave Bitcoin alone?
Tired of my previous life's cutthroat existence, I had no intention of taking the hard road this time.
That was until then.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ One year later. October 7, 1983.
Dad died.
Car accident. Went to America on a trip, got drunk, drove, and crashed. A fitting end for a wastrel soaked in alcohol since Mom died.
You bastard. Was Star Wars Episode 3 that good?
"..."
My plans were disrupted. Can't escape to America now. Grandpa won't let his granddaughter go alone.
Stuck with arranged marriage or getting swept into the Princes' Rebellion and spilling blood.
No, up to that is fine. Unwanted marriage is awful, but at least I won't die.
But how do I keep my secret? I'm immune to natural death and disease, but decapitation kills me like anyone. No eternal torment.
Probably dragged to some chaebol chairman uncle or the Agency for National Security Planning for human experiments and die miserably.
'I hate that.'
But I don't want to die.
I thought I'd benefit from Dad's love of American movies. But the new "father" only left bruises on my arm.
Many people gathered at the funeral. Even scaled down due to banned overseas travel and drunk driving scandal, it was this big.
Gold badges. Local court judges. Affiliate presidents. Daeha Group folks and some from other chaebols.
"Oh dear. Oh dear!"
I saw Grandma wailing. Tears of sorrow on her wrinkled face. He was a pathetic man by my standards, but a beloved child to her.
In the inner room, Grandfather stared gloomily at the portrait. Unable to be chief mourner due to illness, Chairman Yoo Seong-pil canceled most schedules to attend his son's funeral.
What did I think seeing that?
Pity? Or vague sentiment that even chaebol leaders can't escape death?
No. Instead, I felt an intense craving for power.
A craving carried over from my previous life.
If Chairman Yoo Seong-pil had more power, things would be different. If overseas travel ban lifted for escorts, this wouldn't happen. If American cops didn't brush off a crashed Asian youth, he'd live.
If his fame wasn't just in this corner of the East but world-renowned like decades later...
And if I had even just as much power as my previous life's peak...
It would be different.
Voices chattering from afar.
"Whew, Congressman. Long time no see. How's His Excellency?"
"Haha, always healthy. But... I heard from my wife... Ahem. That private education regulation lately?"
To a little girl's eyes, Yoo Jin-cheol's funeral was a gathering of power brokers.
-Step.
Then, the atmosphere shifted as one man approached. Mild-mannered basically, but fatigue and irritation etched on his face from lack of rest.
"Ah. Senior Secretary Kim Hae-ik. An esteemed guest."
The eldest son—the chief mourner—spoke for the first time, having silently watched. I snapped out of zoning and focused.
'Ah.'
...That man looks familiar. The Blue House Senior Presidential Secretary for Economic Affairs, called the Economic President.
The tragic genius who died early in a terror attack. For him to come to the funeral...
"..."
It finally sank in. The Daeha family holds the most assets in Korea.
My heart pounded. For some reason, fear of death and gloom vanished.
I didn't want to die.
No. I wanted to live. Desperately.
Even more desperately.
The past ghost I thought cleansed gripped my body and pushed forward. Vitality surged madly from my heart. My dilated pupils burned the images of countless powerhouses into my brain.
Slowly, irrational craving seized me again.
I stepped forward as if entranced. Toward Grandfather.
Toward the center of power.
"It must grieve you deeply to lose a cherished child, Chairman."
"...Tch. Enough. Sigh. Our Jin-cheol. If I'd known he'd go like this, I'd have given him everything he wanted."
I overheard Chairman Yoo Seong-pil and his right-hand man, Secretary General Lee Hak-cheol, talking inside.
Maybe because I'm just a little girl, or the death of their problem third son Yoo Jin-cheol was that shocking, they conversed without minding me.
"Inheritance... Hmm. Ha-yeon, come here."
Chairman Yoo Seong-pil beckoned me. I ran over doddlingly and grabbed his pant leg like any child.
-Hop.
"Sigh. Yeah. Ha-yeon. Must be tough. Good job handling the funeral at your age."
Unable to mention death directly, he spoke circuitously.
I'd never seen iron-blooded Chairman Yoo Seong-pil so soft. Even when seeing his face post-reincarnation, he wasn't like this.
I smiled brightly and shook my head like an innocent child.
But matching the funeral mood, with appropriately sad vibes.
"I'm okay, Grandpa."
"Look how skinny you got. Kids need to eat well. No picky eating, okay?"
"Yes."
I bowed politely, finely adjusting my expression. To make the Chairman feel as fond as possible.
No. Sympathy's the word... Felt like begging, not great.
But it worked; he sighed faintly and gestured to Secretary General Lee Hak-cheol.
"See how smart the kid is. Promising. After some time, just hand over Jin-cheol's inheritance. Not much anyway."
The secretary general bowed.
"Understood, Chairman."
With that, Chairman Yoo Seong-pil lost interest in me and went to greet guests. Kim Hae-ik was important enough.
He wouldn't admit it, but to him, the empire he'd built mattered more than his passionate grandchild.
After he left, I mulled his words.
Picky eating. Picky eating...
Chairman Yoo Seong-pil, famous for grinding talent mercilessly, has this saying.
People die if they don't eat.
Double meaning. Traumatized by starving over ten days in Korean War days, he always ensured meals for those around him lifelong—that's the surface.
Make sure underlings eat well.
But deeper: Devour surroundings or die. Run madly, bite and eat others to grow.
...Yeah. Same for me.
Whether I want it or not.
Born into a chaebol, it's momentum on a tiger—can't dismount.
'Father. Thank you.'
I thanked my father for the first time. The late Yoo Jin-cheol left not just Daeha Group shares and hundreds of millions in seed money, but something more precious.
Vision.
With all paths I'd ignored and averted my eyes from cut off, the path I must take finally cleared.
The last remaining path.
The grandest, most perilous path.
And the glorious path stained in blood.
'Yeah. Let's try it. Second life anyway— this time, to the end...'
I will devour Daeha Group.
All of it.
'Because I'm the good granddaughter who listens to Grandpa.'
No picky eating. Chew thoroughly and swallow.