Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: 10 Years' Compensation
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As he got ready, Woojin indulged in happy daydreams.
'What should I do with the money? Move first? With about five million for a deposit, we could afford a decent monthly rent and find a nice place to live with Sangjin.'
The two brothers had racked up around twenty million won in debt from scraping by.
Sangjin had told him that for the past year, he'd only been able to pay the interest here and there.
Even after paying that off, a hundred million would still be left.
Woojin shook his head as those thoughts crossed his mind.
'No, this is seed money. It's investment capital to make even more using my abilities. Don't settle for just a hundred million.'
Korea was small, so real estate was expensive.
Even opening a tiny shop could burn through millions in no time, and anything bigger meant billions were pocket change.
Plus, life was unpredictable.
He'd need emergency funds, of course.
'When you think about it, a hundred million isn't that much. I need to grow it from here.'
Woojin changed clothes while thinking that over.
'Huh? These feel kinda tight?'
He hadn't realized it himself, but Woojin's body as a Player had become far more toned and attractive than before.
And this was after lying comatose for a year, looking worn out.
Once he fully recovered, he'd look even better.
'Heh, this is above average for sure.'
There was some saying that 90% of guys looking in the mirror thought that.
Woojin was no exception.
Woojin grabbed a white tee, jeans, and a thin black hoodie before heading out.
It was October, but still a bit warm.
An hour and a half on the subway later, he arrived at the SG Group Korea branch.
Woojin got hopelessly lost—it had been so long since he'd ridden the subway.
'Wow, damn... Just ten years in another world, and I forgot all this?'
The subway system after a decade tested his memory to the limit.
'Is this what it feels like to turn into an old man...?'
He looked like he was in his twenties, but inside, he was a 35-year-old who'd slaved away as a Production Class for over ten years on the battlefield.
Plus, he'd been buddies with the Production Class elders in Unriworld, so his dad-joke powers had grown without him knowing.
'N-no way. Nope. I'm Kim Woojin, 25 years old. Yeah, that's right.'
He blamed it all on not having a smartphone.
Passing through the grand revolving doors into the lobby, Woojin wandered around cluelessly.
'Man, what's with this branch being so huge? Where's the info desk? It's too big!'
"Excuse me, where's the information desk?"
He asked a young woman passing by, but she didn't even answer—just gave him a 'you can't see that?' look and pointed toward it with her finger.
Even with her rude attitude, Woojin was grateful she'd shown him and gave her a friendly thanks.
"Thanks, miss."
It was way too old-man for a guy in his early twenties.
He inwardly cringed and bolted away.
'Miss'? No twenty-something should use that word.
"Hello."
"Hi, nice to meet you. How can I help?"
"I'm here to apply for compensation from the Unriworld... uh, Another Real World coma. What do I do?"
'Coma compensation' sounded weird.
Luckily, the desk staff understood immediately.
"Oh!? Are you one of the group returnees this time?"
"Yes, that's right."
"That's such a relief. Did you bring your documents?"
"Yes, I did."
"Could you give me your ID and bank book copy? You're the account holder, right?"
Woojin handed over his resident registration card and bank book.
"Sure, here."
After checking, the desk staff guided him to the second floor.
"Your application is complete. There's a short counseling session on the second floor—once that's done, the compensation will be paid right away."
"Thank you."
The staff bowed deeply in apology.
"We're truly sorry for this unfortunate incident, sir. SG Group will do our utmost to ensure you never face any inconvenience again."
"......"
They said a word could repay a thousand nyang debt.
It was formal, but it didn't feel bad.
Following the woman's guidance to the second floor, he found the counseling room.
'What kind of counseling, though?'
The session was basically psychiatric counseling.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Kim Woojin. I'm Professor Park Myeonghyeon from the Department of Psychiatry. I hope your trip here was smooth? First, let me apologize for what happened."
"Ah, yes..."
The successive heavy apologies softened Woojin's heart a bit.
"May I ask a few questions? Your personal info and in-game class are confidential to us only, so feel free to speak openly."
Of course—their side managed the data, so no point hiding that he was an Enhancer.
They knew everything anyway.
The professor asked about his experiences there.
"Even as a Production Class Enhancer, your life was constantly at risk. No nightmares or heart palpitations?"
"No, not really?"
Professor Park Myeonghyeon sighed in relief.
"Phew, good. Your mental state looks fine."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes. Other victims had severe PTSD—some would seize up just recalling the place."
"Ah......"
As a non-combatant, Woojin had never stood on a battlefield littered with blood and rolling body parts, so no such trauma for him.
The counselor gave one final explanation.
"Your coma lasted 352 days total. At 350,000 won per day, you'll receive 123.2 million won. Payment will process within two hours."
"Th-thank you."
"No need to thank us—we should apologize. Glad you look healthy, though. Tell us if anything bothers you—we'll cover treatment costs for life."
"Yes."
Click—
As Woojin left the counseling room, he clenched his fist and threw wild uppercuts in joy.
"Yes! Yes!"
Papapapapak—!
He couldn't help shadowboxing in excitement.
'123 million!'
Money he'd never touched in his life.
From a hand-to-mouth existence, he'd finally gotten real startup capital.
They said the best medicine was money. The resentment from ten years of hell vanished in an instant.
Some might say it was too little for ten years trembling in fear of death.
But Woojin didn't see it that way.
He'd fought poverty—scarier than any monster—his whole life.
Finally landing a solid hit on that bastard poverty felt amazing.
Woojin headed home happier than ever.
Then someone called from behind.
"Huh? Kim Woojin?"
Hearing his name, Woojin naturally turned.
Gleaming long black hair, prim and luxurious suit.
Stunningly beautiful woman.
'Who...? Don't know her.'
Woojin looked around.
No one else there but him.
"Me?"
"Yes, Kim Woojin, right? You don't remember me?"
Pleasant voice.
A bit low for a woman, but firm and trustworthy.
'No way I know a beauty like this.'
In 25 years, the only woman Woojin knew was the regular gukbap lady boss.
"I am Kim Woojin, but sorry, who are you...?"
She gathered her hair into a ponytail.
".......?"
Woojin tilted his head blankly, and she let out a wry laugh.
"...Still don't know? That's a hit to my pride."
That's when it hit him.
"Huh...? Whoa!!! Yoo Jihyun!?"
Only then did Yoo Jihyun release her hair, letting it fall back to its calm straight style.
"Finally. That's too much—I've remembered you perfectly."
"Uh... I mean, that's... really Yoo Jihyun?"
He was honestly shocked.
Yoo Jihyun, frontline fighter with almost no contact with rear support, remembered him.
"You remembered me. That's surprising."
She smiled brightly at that.
"Of course. The expedition would've failed without you, Woojin."
"Pardon?"
Yoo Jihyun stepped right up to his face.
Some shampoo or perfume scent teased his nose.
'T-too close!'
She leaned in with a smile.
"Mind if I ask something?"
"Uh? Sure!"
"You got the perk... right?"
"Y-yeah... I did? They give all of them, don't they? You got yours too, right, Miss Yoo Jihyun?"
"As expected... Yes, I did."
Yoo Jihyun's in-game class was Valkyrie.
All-round combat, including aerial.
"Wow, so you fly around whooshing through the sky now?"
"Pfft, not yet. It all reset, remember? Our abilities."
Woojin scratched the back of his head.
'Why's she laughing? Did I say something funny? No?'
"R-right, yeah."
"Of course. You're still Enhancement, right, Woojin?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
She smirked, staring him down.
"Hmm~. So that's it, huh?"
Unriworld's top ace, one of the duo powerhouses—Yoo Jihyun.
Woojin couldn't fathom why she'd take such interest in him.
Enhancement?
Sure, great ability.
But late-game high-grade items cost a fortune even for +1.
Too inefficient, so they skipped it.
Outfitting mid-tier fighters with those resources was way better.
That's how they beat the Demon King, too.
As the awkward air thickened, the counseling room door opened, calling for Yoo Jihyun.
"Yoo Jihyun, please come in."
She was there for counseling too.
"Oh, my turn. Let's talk more next time."
With that, she pulled out her smartphone.
"What's your number?"
'What? Hidden cam? Yoo Jihyun asking for my number?'
Woojin froze, and she giggled.
"What? Won't give your number to a comrade-in-arms?"
"Ah... No, I don't have a phone right now."
"Oh? Haven't gotten one yet. Then..."
She rummaged in her pocket and pulled out a pen.
"No paper... Got any paper?"
"Don't have that either."
After a moment's thought, she stepped closer.
"Wh-why?"
If she was a tiger, Woojin was an ant larva.
Scent or beauty be damned—survival instinct made him back away.
"No choice. Give me your hand, Woojin."
"Pardon?"
Grab—
"??!! P-person! Live...!"
As Woojin retreated step by step, Yoo Jihyun yanked his hand firmly and started writing her number on the back.
Her sudden move left him frozen.
The soft touch of her hand and the pen's tickle felt unreal.
So close her breath might brush him.
She looked straight into his eyes and smiled faintly.
"Person live?"
He'd meant to say 'save my life,' but no way he'd admit it.
"'Person live' is better than handwriting, haha..."
Yoo Jihyun snickered.
"Pfft, call me. Definitely."
Leaving the SG Group Korea branch, Woojin couldn't process what just happened.
In Unriworld, Production Classes were treated far worse than Combat Classes.
At first, sure—everyone was comrades, united to get back to Earth.
But after one year, two years, complaints started.
Combatants dying daily on the frontlines, while Production sucked honey in the safe rear.
Eventually, one lunatic massacred hundreds of Production Classers.
Woojin survived, luckily.
Or unluckily? He'd have returned sooner if he'd died then.
But Yoo Jihyun didn't see it that way.
'Comrade-in-arms...'
Nice ring to it.
Woojin stopped by a phone shop near home and bought two latest-model smartphones.
One for him, one for Sangjin.
He ditched their old numbers.
A pledge for a new life.
Working his ass off only added 'boss' numbers—disposable workers to call anytime.
To them, Woojin was just that.
He didn't want to slave under them anymore.
Seeing them would drag back his miserable 'subordinate' days.
He opened the new phone, saved his brother's number first, and called.
Sangjin was in class and called back immediately.
'In class, huh? Better text him.'
– Yo, bro got a phone. Hit this number. Come home early today, got stuff to discuss.
Then he noticed the number on his hand.
First non-family contact to save.
'No harm knowing it, even if I don't call.'
After saving Yoo Jihyun's number, Woojin downloaded a shopping app first.
With money in hand, he needed a laptop.
'Yeah, computers are essential from now on. Investment.'
He'd never bought anything for himself, so even the new phones gave huge satisfaction.
Now eyeing a top laptop too.
'Spending money is this fun? Gotta succeed and splurge. Eat out freely... Yeah! Tip the restaurant staff!'
One more item on Woojin's bucket list.
After ordering the laptop via the app, he fired up YouTube.
To learn online mall operations.
Complex and tough, but time flew.
He never dreamed studying what he wanted could be this fun.
Soon evening came, and Sangjin got home.
"Bro, I'm back. Ooh, latest model!"
Sangjin immediately fiddled with Woojin's new phone.
"Yours too. Here, just swap the SIM."
Woojin had grabbed an extra unlocked one for his brother.
"Whoa!! Bro!! Loyalty!"
"Overkill..."
Sangjin tossed his bag and started swapping his SIM.
"Really got over 100 mil? When? I asked via text, you just said 'dunno,' and I was so curious I couldn't study!"
Woojin grinned slyly and showed his phone screen.
"Heh heh... See?"
The banking app showed an unbelievable number.
"One, ten, hundred, thousand... billion! R-real!?"
Sangjin had fought poverty alongside Woojin.
Just days ago, suicidal thoughts made him feel stupid now.
Emotions surged.
Just numbers, but...
He couldn't hold back the tears.
"Sniff... Hic... Good... Really good, bro..."
A year of endless waiting.
Life trapped in hopeless darkness.
Woojin's return and payout were a miracle to Sangjin.
Woojin teared up at his brother's sobs too.
A moment later.
"Ugh! Stop crying! It's not a funeral! Cry again and get slapped! Hic!!"
Slap—
A crisp sound, and Woojin's head snapped.
"???"
Sangjin held back tears.
"Said slap for crying... You cried, bro."
"You little..."
Sangjin's surprise pulled Woojin together, and he got to the point.
"Time to start a business."
Woojin crossed his arms with a resolute face, but Sangjin looked doubtful.
"You were serious? About that?"
Woojin nodded exaggeratedly.
"Yeah. Need your college-boy brains for it, Kim Sangjin."