Chapter 72
Chapter 72
----------------------------------------------------------------- Translator: Ace Chapter: 72 Chapter Title: Hong Gi-jun -----------------------------------------------------------------
They said this kept mosquitoes from swarming people or animals, drawing them up into the sky with the smoke instead. The smell was pleasant too, lifting one's spirits when sitting nearby. Yu Se-ra came out into the yard with a cup of coffee. "Jin-hyuk, want to go on a little date with your mom here?" The world is wide and full of people, and some even called themselves "Mom" with their own lips. She was a fascinating and fun woman in many ways. "Sure." It wasn't a real date with anywhere to go—just sitting on the porch swing, watching the mosquito fire, and chatting
"I heard you want to compete in track and field?" "Yeah. They said I don't need to join the sports club." All he had to do was register as a player for each event. He'd confirmed it with Lee Byung-se. Yu Se-ra glanced at her notebook and replied. "Yeah. I looked into it too, and that's right." Jin-hyuk peeked over and saw it filled top to bottom with tiny handwriting. Traces of her hard work were evident, even what looked like bloodstains. "It's two years from now, right?" "Yes. I'm aiming for my third year." "What about training?" "I do it every day, but the best training ground is just the school field." Yu Se-ra let out a deep sigh with a serious expression
No track, just dirt—could proper track training even happen there? They'd probably just do tire pulls or partner drills. She thought that if he grew well, she could recruit him as a star player when setting up the Basic Physical Education Foundation. But the training environment was too poor. "Want to transfer to a school in Seoul?" "Seoul?" "Yeah. There are indoor gyms for rainy days, and schools with tracks." Jin-hyuk hesitated for a moment. Her serious expression and tone made it hard to refuse outright
"Like I said before... I like living here. With my family." Cheon Gil-ryong had also advised that living in this village suited him in many ways. Something about compatibility with the land? Yu Se-ra nodded as if she'd expected the answer. She placed a hand on Jin-hyuk's shoulder and muttered to herself. "Then we'll have to bring a training ground here." "Is that necessary?" Track was something he might not even do forever. He enjoyed it, but there was no guarantee his feelings wouldn't change. He chose it precisely because it was an unpopular sport that wouldn't draw attention, fitting his plan to live quietly
"Don't you want to go to the Asian Games? Even in another sport, a gold medal would be great." "I haven't thought that far." "Military exemption, though?" Oh? He hadn't considered that. Still, if the situation called for it, he'd go. His past self had felt most at ease in the military. Things were different now with family, but... "Men have to serve when they come of age. It's our duty." That belief hadn't changed. Yu Se-ra sighed deeply at Jin-hyuk's blank expression. Some guys pulled every trick to avoid it
'Ugh, he's like that old geezer.' Even her dad and brother in Seoul weren't this stubborn. Where did this self-disciplined, boomer-like kid come from? She couldn't even scold him for it. "You... said..." Biting her lip, Yu Se-ra forced a smile. "You like living with family, right? Military means being apart." "Ah..." That was true. Jin-hyuk scratched the back of his head sheepishly. No matter how much he loved his family, college or the military would separate them anyway. His current happiness had blinded him to future worries
"If building a training ground here is a burden, we can check your competition records in third year of middle school and decide then? Whether to keep going or not." "Sure." She seemed scatterbrained and naive at times, but moments like this reminded him of Executive Director Hong Su-jeong. She didn't act on whims but judged coolly. He felt he could trust her to work with. "I heard even those who were good as kids don't always maintain form growing up. Over 99% of athletes fade away worldwide. Even including those who become coaches or join related organizations, it's still few." Talent without effort leads to failure in any field
Jin-hyuk agreed. And one more thing. 'Luck.' Jin-hyuk was lucky. So far, anyway. Surrounded by the capable, he'd planned to coast along ordinarily. But now he had a goal worth his effort. "Um... Se-ra—no, Mom." "Yeah? Almost got offended there. Oh ho, what is it?" "If my grades are good, what happens after?" "I'll tell you then." She was maddening, just like the others. But Jin-hyuk had his guesses. The conversation with his dad after last year's Daegu tournament. It must have flowed from Dad to Hong Gi-jun, then to Yu Se-ra
No need to confirm—the two old men's lips were loose as rivals. 'Hmm... Do well in sports, get an agency? Gotta think about the military too.' For the first time, "future aspirations" entered Jin-hyuk's mind. Farming was something he could do here unwillingly, so it hardly counted. He didn't think Yu Se-ra's business plans mismatched the era or country. Without knowledge, who knew what fit? Whoever introduced it first would make it standard. "If you set up an agency, will you manage directly?" "Directly? No, hire good people to support—" Oh no
Midway, Yu Se-ra's eyes widened like a rabbit's. It was supposed to be secret, but this guy's mouth was too eager. A victor's smile spread across Jin-hyuk's face. 'Can't hide it, just like Su-jeong.' Good. If he joined, he'd have to deal with her constantly. He worried it'd be inconvenient. Nothing was certain yet, but just in case.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A few days passed since vacation ended. After morning exercise, he entered the classroom first and spread out the newspaper as usual. 「Seokyung to Relinquish Mobile Communications License
Roh-Kim Conflict Enters Resolution Phase.」「Seokyung Forfeits Second Mobile License to Sein Communications.」「Hong Gi-jun, Sein Electronics President, Appointed Sein Communications President—Concurrent Role.」「Sein Electronics Announces Acquisition of Da-o Communications. Sein Group Rises to No. 2 in Business Ranks.」 A month ago, Jin-hyuk might have fainted. Now, he calmly scanned the headlines again. Everyone in the 21st century knew Seokyung would rise to giant status via connections for the mobile license
Yet they not only gave it up but handed it to Sein out of nowhere. And more. Sein acquired third-ranked electronics giant Da-o Communications, rocketing to business rank 2. 'This is seriously weird...' Even without future info, Jin-hyuk knew major corporate histories. He'd suspected Hong Gi-jun regressed, but not this aggressively bulking up. Soon, he cupped his chin and nodded. "So that's how it went..." Hong Gi-jun had clear future knowledge somehow. But Jin-hyuk rejected the regressor theory
If that personality returned, he wouldn't act like this. That was Jin-hyuk's conclusion. Even he himself didn't retain his old personality fully. Beyond character, the info precision differed. Jin-hyuk had virtually none, despite intense past study and work. 'Can't just ask outright.' A kid discussing business with a chaebol chairman or CEO? Only in fiction. And they were blood-related, frequent contacts. Jin-hyuk got shy even for casual talk with Hong Gi-jun. 'Anyway, Chairman isn't the type.' The Hong Gi-jun Jin-hyuk knew was conservatively safe: first, second, third—security
How many execs begged Jin-hyuk's help to persuade him back then? Now, it looked like gambling beyond adventure. Seokyung's license was candy-in-a-kid's-mouth. Stealing it was near impossible. Throat slit? Bought the golden goose? Absurd. Youthful vigor plus future info leading to blackmail? Jin-hyuk reverse-tracked habitually, hypothesizing. Pure academic curiosity. 'Blackmail's the only way.' But who blackmails a military-backed president's family now? Brainwashing them that mobile was a rotten egg to dump it themselves would be easier
And Da-o Communications. 'Did they have that cash?' A group affiliate megacorp. Acquisition, licenses, expansion needed massive funds. Sein was solid financially—low debt—but not cash-rich. So, huge loans. 'What about five years from now? If he knows the future, why overextend?' Government and finance were business-friendly now, but impending crises? Dried funds, no dollars? Hong Gi-jun's involvement was undeniable. Yu Se-ra bragged endlessly about her husband on vacation. Promoted to manager just a year ago, now president? Full chairman trust enabled this
'Suspicious even with Sein's PC launch. Now mobile too.' Pagers, cell phones announced? To Jin-hyuk, Sein Group aimed to dominate everything. 'Why not cars too?' His eyes kept scanning. 「Asia Motors to Sell to Sein Group.」 Thud. Bang. Jin-hyuk slammed his head on the desk. His cool heart thawed rapidly. 'Are they insane?' Was this the world gone mad? The normalcy he expected vanished. Nausea rose from his churning gut; he barely suppressed it. Jin-hyuk felt lonely for the first time in ages
Half the page seemed filled with "Sein." Honestly, not a stranger—Jin-hyuk wouldn't envy Hong Gi-jun succeeding. But as a middle schooler, another reason nagged. 'Damn, just in case, I thought I'd make a little money later, not much...' As an adult, save seed money for... something. He'd had no such intent originally, but Yu-jin's birth sparked desire to be a cool, rich oppa. Once viewing future-knowledge profits as cowardly fate-theft, this seemed worldly and petty. Yet in capitalism, what desire is more honest? Proof of how precious his sister was
Recalling past-life Hong Su-jeong rippled his ironclad heart too. Macho pride or whatever. 'All ruined.' Vague past stock trends were now trash. Thanks to Sein. One group holding most stocks made market impact unpredictable. At least no semiconductors or new materials yet—small mercy. Anyway. 'Hmm... Any way to get info without it coming back?' Reaching a conclusion, Jin-hyuk nodded with narrowed eyes. If that man returned, he wouldn't act so. Something else. The world had changed undetectably from where
'Obviously doesn't know I returned.' Separately, suspicion of Hong Gi-jun's foreknowledge solidified into certainty. But concern loomed: a rural middle schooler's flaps versus a corporate titan differed in ripple and fallout. A heavyweight like him fluttering wings warped the future massively, hard to predict next. Hong Gi-jun wasn't number-cruncher brilliant, just diligent—not a genius strategist. So, one suspect. 'Probably, I saved Dad, and Dad advised Uncle Gi-jun on stuff.' To Jin-hyuk's knowledge, the best strategist near Hong Gi-jun was Son Gwang-yeon
Daily calls, glued together on vacation. Mostly business talk. If right, these changes stemmed from Jin-hyuk. 'World's getting fun.' Jin-hyuk's eyes sharpened like Team Leader Son Jin-hyuk of old. Just wished he could do something. Middle schooler in the sticks—such a drag. Then find other things he could do. Bang. Bang. Sorting thoughts, he banged his head on the desk. Odd habit post-regression, when focusing. Entering classmate Chae Gyu-ho startled back into the hall. After long thunking, Jin-hyuk organized, exhaled deeply
Stroking the heart etched with the toothless Great Magician's spell. 'To become a famous rich guy in that fun world, what should I do?' He folded the paper neatly into his drawer. Wanted to rip it, but today his class cleaned windows.