Chapter 18

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 18

Chapter Title: Freedom from Debt

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"I've got limited education, so I don't know much about a lot of things, but one thing I'm dead certain of: life gets a whole lot easier without loans hanging over your head."

Loans feel great when you take them out. But paying them back? Pure hell. You've got to shell out principal and interest every single month.

Inevitably, as you chip away at the loan, your living expenses start falling short. Desperate for cash right then and there, you turn to credit cards as a quick fix.

Credit cards are a swamp.

A swamp you can't escape.

You get your paycheck, pay off the card debt, then the card debt drains your paycheck, leaving you broke—and with no money, you end up using the card again. It's a vicious cycle.

And losses pile up along the way.

Sky-high credit card interest rates.

The dropping barrier to buying luxury crap.

Reckless spending habits.

Diminished future earnings.

"Man, if I could just pay off all my loans, I'd have no regrets left. Life would be totally bearable without the loans and card debt."

"You're right."

Jin-seong nodded. Lee Ji-seong's words hit him right in the chest.

Jin-seong had taken out a 50 million won loan at 8.8% annual interest. He was paying back 1,030,071 won every month.

With a monthly salary of 2.8 million won, after coughing up 1.03 million for the loan, he was left with just 1.67 million in reality.

'If I didn't have this loan, I wouldn't be scraping by on 150,000 won for living expenses...'

Without the loan, he could've saved at least 1.4 million a month.

He could've given pocket money to his cute little siblings and bought them tasty snacks.

'I've got about 40 million left on the loan... Once I get the lottery winnings, I'll wipe it all out first.'

Paying off the loan would free up 1.03 million won a month.

'Nice!'

In the end.

Starting this month, his take-home pay had gone up by 100,000 won.

He'd decided to send 100,000 less to his mom.

Loan payment: 1.03 million + spare cash: 200,000 + existing allowances: 150,000 = a total of 1.38 million in breathing room.

'Perfect!'

He was over the moon. Joy beyond words. Goodbye, debt collector life—hello, happiness.

"Jin-seong-ah, you've had a lot to drink. Why not crash at my place?"

"Nah. I ate way too much today—can't just sleep it off. Gotta hit the gym and work out first."

Since starting his diet, he hadn't skipped the gym a single day.

No way was Jin-seong letting a bit of booze make him miss it.

'Achievements... exercise... I'll do it come hell or high water.'

His iron will to lose the weight.

His drive to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠become handsome via achievement rewards.

A life of greater growth.

A life of greater success.

'Let's go.'

He walked. Felt the cool breeze. Destination: the gym.

Was it the alcohol buzz?

Making him all sentimental? Stirring up random thoughts?

'But...'

As he walked.

'I'm curious...'

Suddenly, a question popped into Jin-seong's head.

'I... want to grow.'

Become a cooler person.

'But I want success too. Not just personal growth—real societal success. So... how do you even achieve success?'

No.

Actually...

'What the hell even counts as success?'

A question he'd never once asked in his life.

Jin-seong couldn't come up with a clear answer.

'Beats me.'

Sunday. His day off. Eyes popped open at 5 a.m.

Headed out for morning exercise. Took a warm shower.

'Second prize: 44 million won...'

After taxes, of course.

'Remaining loan: 39 million won...'

Once he claimed the prize, loans first—all gone.

'Leaves me with about 5 million spare.'

Feeling great.

Clear the debt and still have 5 million left?!

His net worth flipping from -39 million to +5 million in one shot.

'Heh heh, farewell to the loan life.'

He lay on the mattress. So soft. So cozy. Body and soul wrapped in warmth. A smile crept onto his lips unbidden.

What to do with 5 million?

'Save 4.6 million... Spend 200,000 on myself... And 200,000 to treat the people I'm grateful to.'

Plus 1.38 million extra each month.

How to use the 1.38 million?

'Dump it into savings for the future. Add 1.1 million to my current 500,000—make it 1.6 million a month. Use the remaining 280,000 for living expenses.'

Savings boosted. From 500,000 to 1.6 million.

Living expenses up too. From 250,000 to 280,000.

'Lucky Cookie's cost-performance is insane...'

All thanks to the Lucky Cookie.

Without it, no second-prize lotto win.

If it had been pricey, he wouldn't have bought the lotto at all.

'Invested just 1 point and scored 44 million.'

Insane profit. Ultimate steal. Best bang for the buck.

Bought another. Devoured it. Way tastier than expected.

Better than most store-bought chocolates.

'Truly the king of steals.'

Just 1 point, tastes great, effects amazing.

Last time it was +35.4 Luck for 1 hour.

'Time's way up this round. Luck's down a bit.'

Time increased by 23 hours. Luck decreased by 11.9.

'Wonder what it'll do. Can't wait to see the effects.'

The effects kicked in right away.

A KakaoTalk from Choi A-young.

Not text—a photo.

'What's this?'

He checked it casually.

'Whoa?!'

Had to do a double-take.

Stunned, staring at it—then the photo vanished in a panic.

Didn't see it? Oh, he saw it. Zoomed right in and savored every bit. It was steamy.

Face and upper body. Just in her underwear.

Neckline, collarbone, cleavage, pale pink bra—all out there.

'Huge. Seriously. Massive. Way bigger than I imagined.'

Heavy and mismatched with her petite frame.

'Skin looked smooth as if slathered in honey.'

Phone rang. Choi A-young. He picked up.

"Hello?"

-Oppa, did you see? Or nah?

Jin-seong hesitated.

Be honest? Or lie?

"Didn't see it."

He went with the lie.

-Don't lie~

"For real. What'd you even send?"

-Really? You really didn't? No lie?

"Yeah."

-Phew, thank goodness. Ugh, meant to send a puppy pic but accidentally sent a weird one instead~

Choi A-young patted her startled chest in relief.

-What're you up to, oppa?

"Me? Worked out and now lying down."

-So diligent~

"You?"

-Looking at puppy pics~

-Hehe, puppies are the cutest!!

-When I'm worried, eating something tasty or looking at cute stuff is the best. Makes all the world's worries vanish.

"Got worries?"

-Nah. Had some, but puppy pics fixed it.

-Oppa, A-youngie's bored. Let's meet up early today and hang out~

"Sure?"

Great idea. He was bored with nothing going on.

Better get ready.

Met Choi A-young earlier than planned.

Yellow boxy tee and jeans.

Baggy clothes, petite build, cute puppy-like face—perfect harmony.

Adorably lovable.

Maybe from all the frequent KakaoTalks?

Only their third meetup.

And favorability had hit 50.

'But...'

Jin-seong checked Choi A-young's profile and furrowed his brow.

'What's going on?'

Her profile status wasn't great.

Her bright expression hid a tangled mess inside.

He'd peek at her inner thoughts now and then.

Curious what was troubling her.

"Not hungry?"

"Starving~"

"Let's go. Oppa'll treat you to something tasty."

"No way. A-youngie will pay~"

"Doesn't matter who pays—food first."

"Yay~"

Grabbed breakfast at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a nearby galbi-tang joint.

'I see.'

While eating, he sneaked peeks at her inner thoughts.

Finally pieced together her worries.

'Hmm, thought she was just pure and innocent... guess not entirely.'

Complicated backstory.

'Wanna help, but not sure how.'

Her mom was sick, it seemed. Needed money.

Worried if part-time gigs could cut it.

"......"

Jin-seong picked up a galbi rib. Separated meat from bone. Used tongs and scissors to cut it into bite-sized pieces.

"Eat some of mine too."

All he could do.

"Thanks!"

Just some meat, and favorability ticked up. So easy to raise.

Finished eating. Walked around. Chatted casually.

Full belly? Sunshine stroll? Chit-chat?

Choi A-young's face brightened.

"Waaah, so cute!"

She trotted over to a retriever out for a walk.

"Aww, pretttty!"

Enthralled by the retriever's cuteness, she was beside herself.

"Excuse me, owner? Mind if I pet your pupper just once?"

"Sure, go ahead. He's chill—no worries hugging him."

"Really?! Thank you!!"

Choi A-young hugged the retriever, rubbing her face against its neck.

The retriever took the affection in stride, unfazed.

She came back.

"Hehe, today's total healing. Got galbi-tang from oppa and hugged a cute pup~"

"Love dogs?"

"Yesss! Super much!! Living with Unnie Sol so can't have one, but when I live alone, I'll get one for sure!"

Mid-walk.

"Oppa?"

Jin-seong stopped in his tracks.

"......?"

Choi A-young looked at him quizzically.

Jin-seong's gaze fixed on the lotto shop.

Staring straight at the "Scratch-off Lottery" sign.

Choi A-young held a scratch-off ticket.

"......"

Silent.

Tears like chicken shit plopped down her cheeks.

She'd won 20 million won.