Chapter 34
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Homeward
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'I knew Kim Jong-il was going to die, but Kim Jong-un and Kim Jong-nam dying right now? No way!'
If Kim Jong-un was really dead too, then the future Kangyul knew was about to change.
—NHK and other Japanese media are broadcasting the Joseon Central TV report in real-time with simultaneous Korean interpretation, but they're only speculating that it might not have been internal strife from a power struggle!
In the original timeline, Kim Jong-il was supposed to die from acute myocardial infarction and cardiac shock due to overwork on the train he was riding.
But the death announcement for Kim Jong-il on the broadcast right now wasn't a heart attack.
—According to the National Intelligence Service's statement, Kim Jong-il, Kim Jong-un, and Kim Jong-nam were all killed by gunfire. This will plunge North Korea into chaos for the foreseeable future!
'If Kim Jong-il, Kim Jong-un, and Kim Jong-nam are all dead, then who inherited the power?'
It seemed the successor hadn't been revealed yet.
The most likely candidate was Jang Song-thaek, Kim Jong-il's brother-in-law and Kim Jong-un's uncle by marriage.
He had wielded immense power in North Korea until his actual purge.
'Haa. What the hell is going on?'
Kangyul pressed his throbbing temples with his fingers.
He had to stay on high alert since he had no idea how things would unfold.
'No. The news could be wrong. Let's watch a bit longer.'
Even if the future had changed, there was nothing Kangyul could do about it right now.
Kangyul's sharpened nerves eased a little as Jang Deokcheol entered the president's office.
"President. I just spoke with the nanny."
Kangyul forced himself to calm down and asked,
"Yeah? What did the nanny say?"
"She was pretty upset hearing he's been hopping from PC bang to PC bang. She said there's no point bringing him home since he'll just run off again, so she asked us to watch over him at least until that gaming tournament or whatever ends."
'...This I Jaeyoung kid really drove a nail into the nanny's heart.'
"Got it. There are eyes on us, so let's have him stay in the president's office for now. I'll talk to I Jaeyoung myself."
Jang Deokcheol started to leave the office now that the discussion was over, but he paused and looked back at Kangyul.
He was worried seeing Kangyul's bloodshot eyes.
"President. Aren't you overworking yourself lately?"
"No. I just have something on my mind. It's nothing."
Kangyul forced a slight smile.
Jang Deokcheol nodded and left the office.
'...Even if war really breaks out eleven years from now, there's almost nothing I can do. At best, I can look after my family and get out of Korea.'
Kangyul didn't want to tangle his mind further with a future that hadn't come yet.
He shook his head hard and slapped his cheeks several times.
Smack!
'Get it together!'
Kangyul whispered to 'Harry Potter' right after logging into Sudden Attack.
As expected, he was online since morning, probably at a PC bang.
[God's Hand Kangyul:] Busy since morning, huh.
[Harry Potter:] Gotta practice if I want to win the tournament!
[God's Hand Kangyul:] I was gonna talk about the tournament anyway. You free?
[Harry Potter:] Go ahead!
Kangyul had been pondering how to lure I Jaeyoung to Midas Corporation.
Then he remembered the idea of a training camp for tournament prep.
It was a familiar company name to serious competitors, so it wouldn't raise suspicion.
[God's Hand Kangyul:] My company's doing a training camp to prep for this tournament. Planning to start a pro gaming team later too.
[Harry Potter:] Pro gaming... team? What's that?
[God's Hand Kangyul:] Think of it as pros banding together to practice for tournaments.
[Harry Potter:] Whoa! Awesome! I'm in! Count me in!
I Jaeyoung fell for Kangyul's explanation hook, line, and sinker.
And he agreed to come straight to Midas Corporation.
'Kid's so naive. What if he ran into bad people? Tsk.'
Kangyul whipped up a fake contract as soon as he finished chatting with I Jaeyoung.
It was for a Midas gaming team that didn't exist yet.
The terms were standard contract fare.
But he added clauses: if you're a student, you have to attend school regularly, and you need guardian permission.
'With conditions like these, he'll have to go home, right?'
Kangyul handed the fake contract to Jang Deokcheol.
"With terms like this, he'll definitely go home."
"Yeah. So, Vice President, please convince him nicely. The nanny won't stop him from gaming if he goes to school properly."
"Got it."
After lunch, in the late afternoon, someone timidly entered the office.
It was a grubby-looking little kid.
Kangyul recognized I Jaeyoung at a glance.
'Ugh. Looks like he hasn't bathed in at least a week.'
Kangyul was sitting in his chair, sucking on jawbreaker candy.
He figured something sweet would help ease his stress.
Slurp—
I Jaeyoung spotted Kangyul, who was around his age, and grinned as he approached.
"Hi? This Midas Corporation?"
"Yeah. You I Jaeyoung?"
"H-Huh? How'd you know?"
Kangyul pointed to the vice president's office.
"Head that way. Vice President's waiting."
"Oh? Okay. Thanks."
Kangyul handed him a jawbreaker.
I Jaeyoung gave an awkward smile, popped the candy in his mouth, crunched it, and went into the vice president's office.
'Well. Uncle Jang will handle the rest.'
Kangyul stretched out on the chair.
He was about to take a quick nap when Kim Min-a and Im Honggyu returned.
"Oh my, President, why are you lying here?"
Slurp—
"Welcoming a guest?"
Kangyul handed Im Honggyu two jawbreakers while still lounging.
"Oh, right. Guest's here, so let me introduce you."
Just then, I Jaeyoung emerged from the vice president's office, holding Kangyul's fake contract.
"Friend of the president's?"
"Nah. He's a member of our Midas A clan. You know Harry Potter?"
"Ohhh. Middle schooler, huh? Smaller than I thought."
Kim Min-a grinned.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Charm Girl Min-a, and that dummy uncle over there is Charm Guy Honggyu."
"And I'm God's Hand Kangyul."
I Jaeyoung bowed flusteredly at the sudden clan member meet-and-greet.
"...Uh. I'm Harry Potter. Nice to meet you."
I Jaeyoung said he'd head straight home after his meeting with Jang Deokcheol.
Thankfully, things had gone smoothly between them.
Just in case, Kangyul had Im Honggyu escort him home and keep an eye out for any detours.
"He was more innocent and sweet than I expected. Even teared up talking about the nanny."
"Sigh. Why does a kid like that run away and stress everyone out?"
"He's just a kid. The nanny waiting at home was relieved too."
Kangyul nodded, picturing the nanny's face.
I Jaeyoung's mind was a whirlwind the whole way home.
At first, he planned to proudly shove the contract in Grandma's face and brag.
But as familiar scenery scrolled past the window, his stomach churned.
By the time they reached the house, he hesitated to even touch the doorknob.
'...What if Grandma hates me? What if she tells me to get out?'
He yanked his hand back like he'd been shocked.
Click—
But then the door flew open.
The nanny had been pacing in front of the door, waiting for I Jaeyoung.
Sensing his presence, she couldn't wait any longer and flung the door wide.
She took in his grubby, dirty state and his flustered panic.
"...You!"
The nanny felt a surge of anger, but relief overwhelmed it.
"Hoo. Come in first. Eat something."
The smell of soybean paste stew wafted from the open door.
I Jaeyoung hung his head and stepped inside.
"...I'm h-home."
His tiny voice echoed faintly in the entryway.
The nanny stroked his head and led him inside.
Im Honggyu watched from afar and reported everything to Kangyul.
—President. He just went in.
"No running or fighting?"
—No. He was good.
"Good work. Head back to the office."
Kangyul hung up, relieved.
Things had gone better than expected.
'Got a teammate, eased the nanny's worries. All good. Haha.'
The unease from that weird dream lifted a bit.
'The problem is Seongtae.'
Kangyul casually asked Jang Deokcheol, who'd been listening in on the call beside him.
"What if Seongtae said he wanted to game? What would you do?"
"Our Seongtae? Haha. He takes after me and doesn't like games."
'Doesn't like them, my ass. That Jang Seongtae who looks just like you becomes a national treasure FPS pro gamer in the future.'