Private Dream World Takeover
Chapter 11: Taesung Hotel's Top Presidential Suite.
Right in front of my eyes stood three Michelin three-star chefs—the kind that foodies around the world struggle just to book a reservation with—in a perfect line. And the dish born from their reverent hands? None other than Pikachu tonkatsu.
"Here, Jinwoo. Say ahh. It's fried in the finest French truffle oil, so it won't be greasy at all."
Seol-ah scooped up a piece of Pikachu tonkatsu with a silver fork and brought it to my lips. I unwittingly chomped down on the golden, glistening ear of the Pikachu, which had to cost tens of thousands of won per bite.
"Mmm... delicious. But Seol-ah, do we really have to eat Pikachu tonkatsu in a hotel suite, calling in the head chefs and everything?"
"Of course! It's going into my husband's mouth—how could I feed him something fried in cheap street oil?"
Seol-ah gently wiped the sauce from the corner of my mouth with her thumb, then brought it straight to her lips and licked it off. I felt my face heat up and averted my gaze.
"It really is good. Reminds me of the stuff we used to get at the snack bar by school. Back then, my dream was to go to an amusement park, eat this, and ride the carousel."
My offhand reminiscence from childhood slipped out without thinking. At that moment, Seol-ah's hand, which had been stroking my head, froze.
"...Amusement park?"
A strange glint flickered in Seol-ah's eyes. I had a gut feeling. Oh no, another massive wave of capitalism is about to hit.
"Huh? No, I just meant back when we were kids. It's not like I want to go now..."
"Chief Secretary."
My attempt to backpedal was already too late. Seol-ah called out curtly into the air, and the chief secretary waiting outside the door burst in like a bullet.
"Yes, Director!"
"What's the biggest amusement park in the country right now?"
"It's Dream World, the 'Land of Fantasy' in Yongin."
"Charter the whole place for today."
"Yes?! B-but it's the weekend, and there are already tens of thousands of visitors..."
Seol-ah's eyes went ice-cold.
"Did I ask why it's impossible? Turn on an announcement right now, refund every single visitor, and send them off with double compensation. My Jinwoo needs to play comfortably—no speck of dust floating in the air."
"Understood! I'll make it happen immediately!"
The chief secretary wiped sweat from his brow and frantically radioed instructions. I dazedly set down my fork.
Just because I casually mentioned something while eating Pikachu tonkatsu, she bought out an entire amusement park full of tens of thousands of people?
"Seol-ah... you didn't have to. What about all those people getting kicked out?"
"What are you talking about? My Jinwoo wants to ride the carousel. I can't stand waiting in lines."
Seol-ah planted a light kiss on my cheek and beamed.
Just two hours later, our limousine pulled up to the empty main gate of Dream World. It was like a fairy tale—no sign of a single ant in that vast park. Instead, dozens of executives, led by the park director, stood in a line at the entrance, bowing 90 degrees to us.
"Taesung Group Strategy Planning Director Han Seol-ah! And VVIP Kang Jinwoo! We warmly welcome your visit!"
"Thanks for your hard work. No need for guides—everyone clock out. Leave just the minimum staff to run the rides."
Seol-ah elegantly waved them off. We were left alone in the empty amusement park, strolling leisurely. No noisy crowds battering our ears, no endless lines. Just the gentle melody of a music box and the two of us.
"Jinwoo, wanna ride that? The roller coaster!"
Seol-ah hooked her arm through mine and bounced like a kid.
That's when it happened, as we headed to the roller coaster platform.
"Hey? Aren't you Kang Jinwoo?"
From an empty path, a young guy in a Dream World uniform pointed at me and approached. Memories flooded back. Park Sangcheol, my high school classmate who used to subtly bully me for being poor trash.
"Park Sangcheol? What are you doing here?"
"What do you mean? I got a full-time job here. But how'd a loser like you get in?"
Park Sangcheol eyed me up and down with a sleazy smirk.
"Still hopping between goshiwons and doing odd jobs? Park's closed for a VVIP today. You didn't scale the fence, did you? Get out before I call security."
Nothing had changed. That shallow need to feel superior by trampling others. I sighed, about to open my mouth—
"Oh my."
Seol-ah, arm still linked with mine, lowered her sunglasses slightly and looked at Park Sangcheol.
"Jinwoo, is this... unpleasant guy someone you know?"
Her voice was endlessly soft, but a chilling killing intent lurked beneath—like frost on a blade. She was holding back harsh words for my sake.
Park Sangcheol flinched at Seol-ah's otherworldly beauty and the aura of luxury surrounding her.
"Ah, a friend of Kang Jinwoo's? This guy's been poor since high school—sneaks into places like this. Don't get involved..."
"Director."
Seol-ah murmured lowly into the air. The park director, who had been heading out, came sprinting back, face pale as a ghost.
"Yes, ma'am! You called, Director?!"
"That employee's name tag says Facilities Management Team, Park Sangcheol."
Seol-ah nodded coldly toward him.
"Fire him effective immediately. And blacklist him from the entire leisure industry."
"Yes, understood! It'll be done right away!"
Park Sangcheol's face drained of color at the director's response.
"Director? What the—? Who even is she to fire me...?"
"You fool! This is the Taesung Group Strategy Planning Director who chartered the entire park today! How dare you speak so carelessly!"
The director's thunderous rebuke made Park Sangcheol's legs buckle.
"T-Taesung Group?"
He collapsed to the ground, trembling, staring back and forth between me and Seol-ah. The arrogant glint that had mocked me moments ago was gone.
"Seol-ah, let's just go. He's not worth the time."
I didn't even feel pity for Park Sangcheol as I turned away.
"Okay! If my Jinwoo says go, we go."
Seol-ah flashed her lovely smile again, as if she'd never been icy, and clung to my arm. We walked right past the despairing Park Sangcheol on the ground, heading to the dazzling carousel.
Hundreds of bulbs twinkled just for me.
"Here, Jinwoo. The world's safest, most comfortable white horse."
Seol-ah opened the carousel door herself with a smile. On that carousel, where hundreds of gorgeous bulbs shone solely for me, I sat blankly on the elegantly carved white horse saddle, staring ahead.
"Jinwoo, how is it? You've wanted to ride this since you were little, right?"
Right beside me, Seol-ah propped her chin on her hand in the golden carriage seat, staring intently—not at the carousel's ornate decorations or the scenery outside, but fixed solely on my face.
"Uh... it's good. Really good. But the park's so quiet, it feels kinda weird."
Seol-ah's brow furrowed slightly at my honest take.
"Weird? Oh. I was thoughtless. The heart of an amusement park is the parade and music—I just put you on rides like an idiot."
She muttered self-reproachfully, then pulled out her smartphone with that familiar motion. A chill ran down my spine as I waved my hands frantically.
"No, no! Seol-ah, that's not what I meant—the atmosphere's just novel..."
"Chief Secretary. It's me."
My protests were ignored at light speed, as always.
"Assemble the entire exclusive Dream World parade performance team right now. Even the ones I sent home—charter helicopters if you have to and drag them all back."
The chief secretary's panicked voice came through the speakerphone.
"Yes?! B-but Director! Parades are usually at night, and setting up hundreds of people right now..."
"I'll deduct 10 million won per minute from my dividends if you dawdle. And give each performer 50 million won for today's pay. My Jinwoo's bored."
Click.
Seol-ah dropped the hammer of merciless capitalism, then grinned at me like nothing happened.
"Jinwoo, wait 5 minutes. I'll show you the world's flashiest show."
The little girl who used to toddle after me in the alley, playing in the dirt. My first love was now the queen of the business world, sitting before me, torching hundreds of billions with a single call.
And exactly 5 minutes later.
Bang—!!
A grand fanfare shook the empty park, and massive fireworks erupted from the main plaza.
"Wha—what?!"
I'd barely stepped off the carousel when my jaw dropped at the sight.
From the main gate to the central plaza, hundreds of dancers and a brass band marched in perfect formation along the path. As the parade passed us, the hundreds of performers bowed 90 degrees toward me in unison, showering me with confetti.
These warriors of capitalism, promised 50 million won a head, praised me with eyes more fervent than any cult.
I let out a hollow laugh amid the falling confetti. This wasn't a date—it was like a new nation's founding ceremony.
"Jinwoo, like it?"
Seol-ah whispered in my ear from behind, arms wrapped around my waist. Her soft cheek pressed against my back, her sweet scent tickling my nose. Her grip tightened—a cool, endlessly tender restraint that made escape impossible.
I gazed at the fireworks painting the sky and the hundreds cheering for me. Then I turned to my first love, stuck to me like glue—the scariest, most lovable woman in the world.
"Got it. I'm not going anywhere."
As I stroked her hair, Seol-ah's face bloomed with a smile like she'd conquered the world.
"Really? Promise? If you whine later, I'll really chain your ankle to the bed with solid gold handcuffs."
Her brutal confession sounded anything but like a joke. But I chuckled and took her hand in mine.
Fine. If this golden prison is inescapable anyway, I'll savor this mad capitalist sweetness to my bones.
"Alright, parade's done. What's next? Roller coaster? Or the haunted house?"
I asked boldly, and Seol-ah led me by the hand, declaring proudly.
"Everything! We'll ride till the motors blow!"
In the empty Land of Fantasy, we continued the world's most extravagant, eccentric date. In this perfectly controlled world, I was thoroughly her possession—and the empire's one and only emperor.