Chapter 77: How Many Kilograms Can You Lift? - 4
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 77: How Many Kilograms Can You Lift? - 4
By the time I returned home after sending Ho-cheol off, it was nearly five o'clock.
I gathered the trash I hadn't managed to clear out yet. I’d assumed a high-end apartment would handle things like recycling automatically, but that wasn't the case. Seeing this, I suppose places where people live are all pretty much the same.
Feeling like the effort of lugging two general waste bags and a mountain of recycling downstairs shouldn't go to waste, I bought a cup of coffee at a cafe near the building. I’d originally intended to drink it there, but the place was packed with nothing but young people, so I felt self-conscious and walked out. It wasn't as if someone was threatening me to leave at knifepoint, but I instinctively avoided them.
I probably looked like a withered flower barely holding on among those in the bloom of youth.
Sigh. My "shell" might look like this, but I’m actually on the younger side too... How miserable.
— Slurp, slurp.
Regardless of my gloomy mood, the Americano was refreshing. Come to think of it, it’s been a long time since I’ve had coffee. During my time in the previous dimension, I drank nothing but tea. Ice was a rare luxury, so it was difficult to even have anything cold.
Modern times are definitely convenient.
"I wonder if Master is doing well."
She’ll likely suffer for a while under the weight of her guilt. She lost her disciple twice, and one of those times, she ended his life with her own hands. It must hurt her deeply.
"Still, I hope it only hurts a little."
Since her obsession with me was so strong, I can't help but worry.
Lost in thought, I arrived back home. The house, which had at least been partially filled with trash before, now felt incredibly spacious and empty. Even though a home is meant to be a place of comfort, I don't know why this wave of loneliness is washing over me.
"No wonder he got hooked on internet broadcasts."
The original owner of this body was someone who didn't really meet people. He must have always been lonely after finishing work. While I didn't agree with his lifestyle, I could understand it a little now.
Loneliness. He must have been constantly plagued by it.
Perhaps his struggle to connect with the beings on the screen and his habit of cluttering the house to fill the void were all attempts to overcome that loneliness.
"Alright, let's focus again."
Sitting in a comfortable chair, I picked up a notebook with a recent date from the mountain of spiral notebooks and flipped it open. It seemed he had been analyzing market trends and deciding on his next investment targets. Various newspaper clippings and materials he’d gone to the trouble of printing from the computer were pasted inside.
Since I’ve lived the life of a commoner, I don't know much about assets and the like, so I have to study hard. That way, I’ll be able to make the right decisions when the situation calls for it. My first priority is moving these massive piles of analog records onto the computer.
*
Three hours. That’s how long it took to transfer the contents of the notebook to the computer.
The Americano was long gone. I kept a 1.5L bottle of water next to me, drinking straight from the bottle to stay hydrated.
"Ugh..."
My whole body is stiff from sitting for so long. It reminds me of the days I used to work with Lee Mina.
"Let's take a break."
With a few clicks of the mouse, I logged onto OceaniaTV. A female streamer? No. I’m going to watch a gaming broadcast.
— Vrrr.
While I was searching for a suitable stream, Ho-cheol called.
"Hello?"
— "Ah, yes, Brother. I went to the gym and passed on the word. They said they'll do it."
"That's good."
— "I think you can start going tomorrow. They said they're there all day, so you can head over whenever it's convenient for you."
"Got it. You spoke to them well, right?"
— "Oh, of course. I made sure to say it in a way that wouldn't offend them."
"Right, thanks. It's late. You should head home too."
— "Oh wow, what's with the sudden warmth? Understood, sir!"
Ho-cheol hung up with an exaggerated reaction. Just how much had the original owner worked the guy for him to react like that? Since I’ve possessed this body, I should try to project a better image. Power-tripping is completely against my nature.
"LoL is boring... isn't there some variety game?"
I scrolled through the channels, looking for a room that wasn't too loud but wasn't too quiet either. No one caught my eye, and no games looked interesting.
"Should I just watch YouTube?"
Maybe it's because I'm getting older, but I'm starting to feel sleepy. Just as I was debating whether to fall asleep to a calm YouTube video, a small window appeared in the bottom right.
>> Hana (hanazzing): Oppa, you're logged in? [20:57]
The same Hana I—or rather, the previous owner—had passionately wooed had sent a message.