Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Spit Out Your Account Number If You Don't Want to Die
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Silicon Valley, USA.
It was home to SG Group, the company that had shattered countless records to claim the top spot in the world overnight.
The SG Group headquarters, built on a sprawling 100,000 pyeong site, was practically its own kingdom.
At the pinnacle of the tallest building—an 80-story tower at the center—sat SG Group's CEO, the genius programmer and AI scientist Dr. Steven Galler, deep in conversation with a woman.
"So, everyone's safe. That's what you're saying."
A clear, ethereal voice responded to Steven's question.
It belonged to Dr. Jenna Bale, his prized pupil, secretary, and colleague.
"Some are complaining of mental strain, but most are unharmed, Doctor."
Dr. Steven sank heavily into his chair.
"Phew... At least that's a relief."
"You've accomplished something extraordinary. Your achievement will go down in history, Doctor—as the hero who saved Earth."
Steven gave a wry smile.
"All I did was use the ability some mystery benefactor tossed our way like pocket change."
"If it hadn't been you, we wouldn't have even had the chance to use it."
Steven smiled bitterly.
He could feel the sincerity in her words.
The doctor changed the subject.
"Anyway... It's time to check the results. Are you ready?"
Jenna nodded.
"Yes. Today marks exactly one year since I first used the ability."
Tension flickered across Dr. Steven's face.
"I hope what we've done wasn't all for nothing."
Jenna nodded and gathered her strength.
"Then let's begin."
"Please do."
With Dr. Steven's permission, a brilliant light began to emanate from Jenna's entire body.
"Ngh! Grraaah!"
She looked to be in agony.
"Aaaah!!"
Fwaaaaa—!
After several dozen seconds of tortured screams...
The intense light from her body faded, and Jenna collapsed on the spot.
Thud—
"Hah! Haah! Heuk! Heuk!"
Her body was drenched in sweat, and she gasped for air.
Dr. Steven rushed to her side and supported her.
"Are you okay!?"
"J-Just... a moment... to catch my... breath."
"Of course. Slowly. Deep breaths, like that...!"
"Hoo..."
A moment later.
Having steadied her breathing, she spoke.
Her voice brimmed with emotion.
"It... it worked, Doctor... We've averted doom... the foretold extinction!"
"!!!"
At her words, Dr. Steven's legs gave out, and he slumped to the floor.
And he laughed.
"Ha, haha. Hahahahaha!!"
This was a secret known only to the two of them.
Around the time Awakeners began appearing worldwide.
Dr. Jenna Bale was the first to fully grasp her own ability—more than anyone else.
At first, it was just prophetic dreams.
But it wasn't.
While working on Another Real World, she casually uttered the word "status window" that was always on her lips. The moment it left her mouth, a blue system window appeared before her.
She thought it was a hallucination from overwork.
But it wasn't.
The status window was incredibly detailed, and clicking the skill brought up a full explanation.
Description: The user acquires fragmented but potent visions of 'major events that greatly impact human history.' Visions provide core elements of the event, possible time ranges, related individuals, group types, etc. However, visions are never complete, and their real-world impact varies based on interpretation and choices. Detailed Effects:
1. Core Vision: Summarizes the event's essence in visual scenes.
2. Structural Clues: Reveals core causes and triggers (tech, items, people, etc.).
3. Time Range: Provides broad periods; no exact dates. Range narrows with user proficiency/environment.
4. Geographic/Social Scope: Indicates affected regions (continents/countries/cities/ethnicities), etc.
5. Additional Signs: Lists omens before/after to boost prediction credibility.
6. Uncertainty Factors: Shows variables affecting vision reliability/interpretation.
Note: All skill activations/effects manifest as prophetic dreams. Manual activation incurs a 1-year cooldown.
It was too specific and clear to be someone's prank.
And so, Dr. Jenna Bale decided to test the skill.
The result.
She saw it.
Humanity's extinction.
The final days of doomed humanity were horrific—far beyond any mere nightmare.
As her worries deepened.
She sought help from her mentor and colleague, Dr. Steven.
Was it fate's joke?
His Awakening skill was also tied to extinction.
His skill was called 'The Ark.'
A final vessel to save humanity—but usable only once in a lifetime.
Now that Dr. Bale had acquired a prophetic vision confirming the extinction averted, Steven's heart felt lighter than ever.
"You're certain the prophecy's chance of missing the mark is low?"
Dr. Bale nodded.
Over the past year, she'd encountered countless prophecies in dream form.
And if left alone, they came true without the slightest deviation.
The good news? Prophecies learned in advance could be stopped.
That's how she and Dr. Steven had protected humanity from numerous disasters.
"It really worked! Using 'The Ark' wasn't in vain!"
"Yes, Doctor!"
The two shared their private joy.
The moment they'd alone thwarted humanity's doom—unknown to the world.
As elation trembled through him, Dr. Steven finally voiced his curiosity to Dr. Bale.
"By any chance, do you know the key figures or countries that prevented it?"
Dr. Bale shook her head.
"Not the exact individuals, but I know the countries."
"Oh? Tell me."
Dr. Bale recalled the details from the prophetic vision.
"The United States... Germany... and Korea. It's a bit odd, though. Korea had the biggest impact?"
Dr. Steven nodded as if he'd expected it.
"Really?"
A little strange, but plausible.
Korea was home to Jihyun Yoo, the top contributor.
"Aaron for the US, Jihyun for Korea... Who for Germany?"
Dr. Bale answered immediately.
"Likely 'Felix Stahlman,' the blacksmith who confirmed the ending."
"Right! The blacksmith. He could've forged the weapon to avert doom!"
The euphoria was brief.
Now it was time to act.
The future had changed, but inaction could lead back to extinction at any moment—a tightrope walk.
"We'll be busier from here on."
Dr. Bale smiled faintly.
"With hope in sight, is a little busyness a problem?"
Dr. Steven laughed at her words.
"Right you are. Absolutely!"
Their efforts to avert humanity's doom were only just beginning.
In conclusion, the real estate lady wasn't some swindler masquerading as a kind soul—she was genuinely warm and friendly.
She kindly showed Woojin and Sangjin the office and house, sharing real estate tips the brothers likely didn't know.
Right there, they signed a preliminary contract for the office and decided to think more about the house.
"Come on time tomorrow! The landlord loves acting busy!"
Woojin nodded.
"Don't worry, we will."
Leaving the agency, Woojin and Sangjin headed to a nearby coffee shop—the weather had turned chilly that day.
With their finances easing up, they could finally afford coffee and a chat.
"Bro, what do you want?"
Woojin pondered Sangjin's question.
"I'd know if I'd been to a place like this before. They got anything like that mix coffee from the agency?"
"Hot?"
"Nah, iced."
Sangjin puzzled over his brother's odd psychology—suggesting coffee shop because it was cold, then ordering iced.
'Is he nuts...?'
"I'll handle it."
Woojin tried handing over his card, but Sangjin just went to the counter and ordered.
Moments later, with the buzzing bell, Sangjin returned.
Woojin asked,
"Where'd you get the money to buy stuff like this willy-nilly?"
"While you were out cold, I was killing myself with work and studies. Now that you're up, I'm dipping into this month's part-time pay a bit—what's the big deal?"
Sangjin's casual attitude irked Woojin.
"...You worked part-time...?"
As his brother's face darkened, Sangjin hurriedly added,
"I-I studied hard too!"
Woojin was hypersensitive about Sangjin working.
'I'll never let my little brother live like I did.'
It was his last shred of pride.
"......"
As Woojin's expression didn't soften, Sangjin's excuses grew elaborate.
"Bro, after you collapsed, I had to eat somehow alone! The government aid barely covers drinks with classmates!"
"...So you worked part-time because your allowance wasn't enough?"
Woojin's face eased a touch.
Sangjin seized the moment.
"Y-Yeah! Even without friends, I've gotta do college life! Dues, all sorts of expenses!"
"Alright, got it."
Woojin opened his banking app.
"Hey, recite your account number. I'll send you some pocket money. Sorry I wasn't paying attention."
"What are you talking about? I have money, bro! I'm using my own part-time pay!"
Woojin's brow furrowed.
Thinking of his kid brother groveling for others' money while he lay useless fueled a burning rage.
Pathetic for himself, pitiful for Sangjin.
"Quit yapping and spit it out quick. Unless you wanna die."
You couldn't stop a brother like that.
Sangjin quietly recited his account number.
Woojin transferred 10 million won without hesitation.
Better for the frugal Sangjin to have a lump sum.
After sending, Woojin said,
"Pocket money sent—check if it went through."
As Woojin spoke, Sangjin's banking app pinged.
Seeing the amount, Sangjin jumped.
"Wh-what!? T-Ten million...!? Why so much? Did you include next semester's tuition? I can get scholarships!"
Watching Sangjin freak out finally softened Woojin's expression.
Even his prickly brother couldn't resist money.
"Brotherly gift tax exemption caps at 10 million, so that's it. From now on, any profits get split exactly 50% monthly. Check if salary or joint business saves more on taxes."
Sangjin blinked in shock at Woojin's words.
"Why give me 50%? It's your ability."
"Shut it and say 'thank you' when I give."
"Wh-what's with the sudden change?"
Woojin swallowed the words 'Because of you, I survived this long without dying.'
He realized he couldn't baby Sangjin forever.
This incident taught him: make sure Sangjin could thrive alone if needed.
No telling what life throws—even if he never wanted repeats.
"You're a grown-ass adult now. Adults take responsibility. I won't touch how you spend your share. It's fully yours."
"...You dying, bro?"
"What, you punk?"
"No, don't talk like you're dying tomorrow! It's scary!"
"I'm not dying, idiot. I'm a Player. Way stronger than normals."
Sangjin said in a slightly trembling voice,
"Just... don't slip into a coma without warning again."
"...Got it."
In moments like this, Woojin was unmistakably the big brother.
The guy who got nagged daily at home felt like a father figure—something Sangjin never knew.
"Now that you've got cash, treat your college buddies big. Drink, hit clubs, whatever."
Sangjin had no college friends.
With tight finances, mingling as a student would've burned cash fast.
But unable to tell Woojin the truth, Sangjin exaggerated.
"If I had that kinda money, I'd buy stuff I want. Why buy booze? What've they done for me?"
"Heh, fair enough. Buy whatever you want."
The bell buzzed; Sangjin fetched the drinks.
"Yours, bro."
Woojin smelled something sweet and familiar from the unfamiliar coffee, digging through memories.
"Huh? Smells super familiar. What is it?"
Sangjin smirked—knew it.
"Try it. You'll know right away."
At Sangjin's urging, Woojin slurped the dalgona latte in one go.
"Kah! It's dalgona!! Damn, it's good!"
"Knew you'd love it. Heh."
"Bro, menu pick was spot-on. Wondered why fancy coffee's pricey—but this? Worth it occasionally."
Sangjin's drink was always a double-shot Americano before assignments or exams—caffeine and college life inseparable.
As the familiar bitterness spread, Sangjin turned to Woojin.
"So, what're we doing, bro."
By then, Woojin had downed the dalgona latte entirely.
"Dude... you one-shot it?"
The office was already contracted; Sangjin meant the house.
'An apartment, huh...'
Woojin stared blankly at Sangjin and chuckled.
It reminded him of little Sangjin long ago.
—When I grow up, I'll make bank and get us an apartment!
Sangjin's elementary school dream.
"What do you want? Apartment?"
Sangjin's heart raced.
Apartment.
The dream they'd joked was impossible this lifetime.
But now, no longer a dream.
Sangjin's modest wish stood before him, tangible.
Yet doubt crept in.
'This is all thanks to bro... Do I even deserve to push for it?'
Sangjin hesitantly opened his mouth.
"Bro, I..."
Then—
Woojin cut him off.
"What're you agonizing over, punk? Who says brothers can't live in an apartment? Let's do it—fuckin' apartment. Big deal."
Sangjin burst out laughing.
Yeah, that's my bro.
Sangjin grinned brighter than ever.
"Yeah! Apartment it is!"