This Is Insane

It was insane.

Even after returning to his office, Siyoon kept his eyes locked on the monitor.

How far is this thing going to climb?

Thirty minutes before the market closed.

The gain so far stood at +23.41%.

Compared to yesterday, when it had managed a measly +1.4%, the stock had sprouted wings today. It had already smashed through its previous high, and with volume pouring in behind it, the buying pressure looked set to hold until the closing bell.

Chart analysis was meaningless at this point. It was rally, and rally again.

That's the power of a sector leader.

The renewable energy theme had taken complete control of the KOSDAQ market, and Jinju Energy — late to the party, but explosive once it joined — was running at a terrifying pace.

He turned to the news articles open on his other monitor.

Jinju Energy's name appeared everywhere in the headlines. The more it became an issue, the more new investors flooded in — and volume, in turn, translated straight into price gains.

He shifted his gaze to the order book.

Jinju Energy, which had at some point broken through the 10,000-won mark, stumbled as if it had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hit a wall. It'd be nice if it cracked 11,000. Unfortunately, time was running short.

With a low whir, the order book flickered up and down, up and down — and then, at some point, it stopped. The market had closed.

It hadn't hit the limit-up, but a 26% surge in just two hours had wrapped ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠up the trading day. A towering green candle now ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠stood on the chart — a limit-up on Monday was well within reason.

When he finally unstuck his posture from the screen, his whole body ached. He stretched in his chair and, feeling light, pulled up a stock community site.

Just as expected, the boards were carpet-bombed with theme stock posts — and the hottest keyword of all was Jinju Energy.

Posts about Jinju Energy were going up by the second. That alone said everything about how central it had become to this entire theme.

He closed every window on the monitor and murmured to himself.

"Mars or wherever — let's go."

That weekend, he visited a real estate office on Saturday afternoon.

A middle-aged broker greeted him warmly.

"Welcome, Mr. Kang. Please, have a seat over here."

At some point, "Mr. Kang" had become the honorific of choice. Their first meeting had been a routine lease — this time, he was shopping for a 4.2-billion-won property. A shift in her attitude was only natural.

As soon as Siyoon sat down, she produced the photos and documents she had prepared in advance and launched into her pitch, speaking with the deference of a corporate secretary briefing a chairman.

"The current listing is a premium-grade residential-commercial complex, 73-pyeong in exclusive area. The Han River sits directly in front of the building, so you can enjoy the feeling of a stroll without ever stepping outside."

Sounds like the perfect home for Jeombak-i.

A walk without ever going out for a walk.

"Four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The master suite is laid ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠out like a hotel suite, with separate dressing room and powder room. One of the rooms is ideal as a study — its hallway is isolated from the living room, so noise isn't an issue."

She spread several photographs out in front of him. After studying them for a moment, Siyoon asked, "The price is listed at 4.2 billion, right?"

"That's correct. Being the top floor of a twenty-story building, it does run higher than the other units, but given the view and the floor level, I'd call it a fair price. It's currently vacant, so you're welcome to view it at your convenience."

"Understood. Let's go see it first, then talk."

And so he visited Libert Hangang with the broker.

From the entrance lobby all the way to the elevator rising to the twentieth floor, the building exuded a hotel-like opulence. When the broker tapped her key card at the door, it swung open — and Siyoon, walking toward the living room, suddenly stopped mid-step.

His gaze drifted upward on its own. This was a height no ordinary apartment could offer. Two floors joined into one, without a trace of claustrophobia.

"The Han River is right over there."

Following the broker to the living room's floor-to-ceiling windows, he found the Han River spread out beyond the glass like a painting.

So this is what they mean by a real Han River view.

A landscape that no officetel could even hope to compare with.

The broker soon slid open a door set into one side of the living room, revealing a terrace.

"This is the outdoor space. The floor is finished with premium wood decking, and it's been styled like a café — though of course you could remodel it however suits your taste."

Half-listening to her explanation, Siyoon stood at the railing and looked out over the river. People strolling through the park below. The water glittering in the sunlight. And across the river, even the landmark 63 Building.

This place... is going to be my home?

He had come intending to buy it, but the reality of it hadn't sunk in. After lingering on the terrace for a while, he toured the interior with the broker.

The kitchen boasted an island of natural marble. The bathroom, the study, the bedrooms, the dressing room — not a single corner fell short of expectations.

"What do you think? The registry is completely clean, and the owner is preparing to emigrate, so if you make the decision, a fast close is entirely possible."

While Siyoon was looking out the window, the broker asked again.

"If the price point is a burden, there are some more affordable listings I could show you..."

"No. I'll take this one."

Her face lit up. "Then... when would you like to sign the contract?"

"Move as fast as you can. The full purchase amount is ready."

Unable to hide her delight at his decision, the broker pulled out her phone. "Then I'll make some calls right away."

Back at the officetel, Jeombak-i came trotting to greet him.

Tap-tap! Tap-tap! Tap-tap!

"You're going to trip and fall one of these days."

Woof!

He scooped up the robot dog as it came bounding over, tail wagging, and met its eyes. As if reading his mood, Jeombak-i tilted its head — a gesture that clearly said, well? Spill it.

"Nothing big. I went to look at a house."

Woof?

"Ceilings high as the sky, a living room as big as a playground, and the Han River right out front — the view's not bad. Oh, right. There's an outdoor terrace too. Sit out there and it actually feels like you're out on a walk."

Woof woof!

"What are you so happy about? You're a robot."

Grrrrrrr.

"Anyway, we'll probably be moving before long. Just so you know."

He set Jeombak-i down, and the little machine — clearly in high spirits — began sprinting loops around the room. Watching it for a moment, he settled onto the sofa, and his phone soon rang. It was Bang Yo-han.

"Well, well, calling me on a weekend? Shouldn't you be busy with your love life?"

"Fair point. If owning a Tesla were all it took, the roads would be nothing but Teslas. So. Did you get shot down?"

"Wow, such kind words."

"I'm just stating facts. What woman falls for a robot otaku? Anyway, what's up?"

"I met Hye-young for a bit today. Would it be okay to come to your housewarming next week or so?"

"You'd better not be talking about my place."

"Who else's place would I be talking about? Hye-young said next week works for her too, so I was thinking we'd come together."

"Haa..."

Siyoon let out a long breath.

However much Koo Hye-young had been in the same department, the truth was they'd never exchanged a single word back in school. For someone who found dealing with people as difficult as Siyoon did, even something as small as a housewarming was an ordeal.

"If it's really that much trouble, forget it. Hye-young was curious about you, anyway — what kind of person you are."

Once upon a time, he would have refused flat out.

This time, that wasn't so easy.

For the sake of a robot otaku who'd never once been on a date, he could at least throw a housewarming party.

"Fine. Bring something delicious."

"Seriously? You mean it?! You're my friend, Siyoon! If you're lying, I will never forgive you!"

"Though it might not be next week."

"Huh...?"

"I went to look at a place to move into today."

"Move? How long has it even been since you moved into the officetel?"

"It happened. Anyway, I'll call you once it's settled."

Hanging up, Siyoon took a slow turn around the officetel.

"They say you grow attached right before you part ways. Well — goodbye soon, I guess."

Monday morning.

He'd come in early to survey the KOSDAQ market when Kim Ju-im and Choi Tae-wook walked into the office together.

"Good morning, sir!"

"Mr. Kang, you're in early again today. Is something the matter?"

"Nothing worth worrying about. Just get to work."

"Yes, sir!"

They each settled at their desks, and after a while Kim Ju-im came over to Siyoon.

"I have the weekly report. First, last week's total shipments came to 1,124 orders — mostly consumables like office A4 paper, printer toner, and ink. For IT equipment..."

"Hold on."

Kim Ju-im froze mid-sentence.

"Who told you to give me the weekly report?"

"Ah — the general affairs team said you're to receive it every week, sir..."

"It's fine. You don't need to report to me separately. If anything unusual comes up, just tell me as it happens."

"U-understood, sir!"

Kim Ju-im returned to his desk, and only then could Siyoon focus on the market.

A quick search of the news showed the renewable energy theme still burning hot — and at the very center of the fire, Jinju Energy. After climbing 23% last week, every eye in the market was fixed on it.

Having checked all the news, he opened his brokerage account.

Profit to date: 1.557 billion won.

Once today's session opened, that figure was expected to balloon.

It'll hit limit-up, won't it?

A dot-upper open would have been ideal, but with the selling pressure that had flickered at Friday's close, that seemed unlikely.

As he stared intently at the monitor, nine o'clock arrived — and the market opened.

The stock gapped up on the open.

Trade price: 12,550 won.

Trade price: 13,100 won.

The order book was flying. The price, which had hovered near the daily limit, at some point planted itself at the very top.

Trade price: 14,200 won.

...!

The order book stopped moving entirely.

Two minutes after the open, Jinju Energy hit limit-up.

Naturally, Siyoon's eyes drifted to his profit window.

Seeing the 3.5-billion-won profit in front of him, the words slipped out of Siyoon before he could stop them.

"...This is insane."