Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: The World's Worst Filial Son
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***
"A psycho was hiding right here."
The moment Park Jung-ah heard her brother's words, fear gripped her.
'He doesn't believe me after all?'
The image of being locked away in a mental hospital flashed through her mind in an instant.
Park Jung-ah tried her best to keep a calm expression, but her hands and feet trembled uncontrollably without her realizing it.
As she swallowed hard amid the suffocating tension.
"It's okay. Truth is, I'm a reincarnator too."
Her brother's shocking words followed.
"Huh?"
Her reaction froze at his sudden confession.
Park Jung-ah desperately swallowed the words, 'Then why is our house still such a mess?'
She had learned from childhood that speaking out of turn here would get her hit.
To begin with, Park Jung-ah wasn't the type to nitpick other people's words.
The fact that such a retort had come to mind at this crucial moment was because she'd spent time with her brother and picked up his habits.
"I'm a reincarnator too."
In any case, relief washed over her at the fact that she wouldn't be forcibly admitted to a mental hospital, and tears began to flow.
She felt embarrassed that she, a mentally adult person, was crying, but she couldn't control her tear glands at this young age.
Her brother quietly approached and hugged her.
From afar, it looked like a touching scene of an older brother comforting his much younger sister.
"Oppa, you're a reincarnator too?"
"Yeah."
"You're not lying?"
"It's true."
"Then why is our house still poor?"
"How do you expect to get rich without lotto?"
"In novels, they always figure it all out on their own."
In reality, they were busy confirming the future knowledge they both shared.
"Who's the next U.S. president after America?"
"Obama."
"...George Bush wins, but I get that you're a reincarnator, oppa. And now I know why our house is still poor."
It was hard to believe, but once her brother proved he was a reincarnator.
'...So all that was done by a full-grown adult?'
The torments she'd endured flashed through Park Jung-ah's mind like a montage.
From the water-fetching errands that started as soon as she could walk, to being used as a free kick practice wall.
She couldn't believe that all of it had been the ideas of a full-grown adult.
'This... won't do.'
In truth, Park Jung-ah had planned to reveal herself as a reincarnator today and rebuild her relationship with her brother.
But her plan had crumbled before it even began.
'No, there's still hope.'
Clinging to that hope, she asked her brother.
"Oppa, how old were you before regressing?"
"37. You?"
"...Not telling."
He quietly accepted his little sister's fate.
***
I shared many stories with my reincarnated little sister after revealing my own status.
We even talked about what we'd done in our previous lives.
Nothing particularly noteworthy, though.
"You said you were an idol in your past life. What group?"
I'd had some expectations since she was an idol, but it was a group I'd never heard of.
Guess they weren't that famous after all.
"You don't know us?!"
"Thinking everyone knows you is celebrity syndrome."
The moment I finished speaking, Park Jung-ah, who had been fuming, calmed down instantly when I showed her the tranquilizer (my fist). Early education really is important.
Honestly, it felt a bit awkward treating her after she revealed she was a reincarnator.
But in this life, she was still my unchanging little sister.
Nothing would change just because she was a reincarnator. The bond and little memories we'd built wouldn't vanish.
"Hey. I'm thirsty."
"Get your own water!"
"Water."
"...I'll go get it."
If she'd been an idol I knew, she might've gotten a bit better treatment, but sadly, she was an unknown idol, so no holds barred.
And my sister seemed comforted by the fact that I treated her just as casually as before her reveal.
'...Wait, does that mean she deliberately spilled water on me back then?'
As I started to confront that uncomfortable truth.
"Here, drink."
My sister brought the water.
"So, what are you gonna do this life? Idol again?"
I looked at her and spoke calmly.
There was still something I needed to check.
"Ugh. No way. Never doing idol twice."
"Huh? No missions?"
"Missions?"
"Mine says to win the Champions League as a manager."
"I don't have anything like that."
In the process, we talked about my ability, 'Scouter.'
"You can see soccer players' potential?"
"Yeah."
At that moment, my little sister's eyes sparkled like she'd discovered an endless gold mine.
"Oppa, aren't soccer players' transfer fees expensive?"
"Huh? Yeah. Pretty much. If they look like they can kick a ball decently, it's over 100 billion won minimum."
"Then, should we buy a club, develop prospects, and sell them?"
"If you just buy the right bitcoins, you'd have enough for life. Why bother?"
As I realized Park Jung-ah's greed for money was beyond imagination.
"Oppa! The future might change because of us, but abilities are different!"
"Abilities can disappear out of nowhere too."
"Trust me! Abilities won't vanish! I have a feeling!"
She suddenly floored the accelerator on her delusions.
I calmed down my little sister who was trying to become a 21st-century slave trader.
"Before that, give me the lotto numbers. I'll convince Mom and Dad."
"Oh. Right."
***
With the resolve of a general heading into battle, I stepped out of the room after receiving the lotto numbers from my 'psycho' little sister, who had been memorizing them in preparation for regression.
I saw my sister peeking her head out from behind the door, making a fighting gesture with both hands.
'Oppa, fighting.'
'Just trust me.'
We nodded simultaneously, as if our thoughts were synced.
For the record, I'd volunteered to go first because I said I had a secret weapon to convince Mom.
Heading to the living room, I saw Mom preparing dinner.
I approached her, handed her the paper with the six numbers my sister had written, and pulled out my desperate plea.
"Mom, our deceased grandpa told me the lotto numbers."
Our superstitious mom would definitely fall for this one line with high probability....
"What are you talking about? Both Grandpa and your other grandpa are alive and well."
Huh?
My mind glitched at the news that both my paternal and maternal grandfathers were still alive.
"Oh. They're still alive, huh?"
I'd made the worst slip-up.
***
"Oh. They're still alive, huh?"
Seeing her brother Park Chan-hyuk like that, Park Jung-ah had one thought.
'What the hell is wrong with that guy?'
A whirlwind of emotions surged through her heart.
From the emptiness of losing our chance at riches, to anger at her idiot brother, and regret that she should've convinced the parents herself.
Her heart wouldn't settle.
"Oppa!!"
As she was about to unleash a torrent of curses at her brother, who returned scratching his head sheepishly.
"Come with me, sis."
Park Chan-hyuk said.
And the two headed to the neighborhood mart that sold lotto tickets.
"Oppa, objectively, your face looks a bit mature, but not adult-level."
"Shut up and listen quietly while I explain the plan, sis."
"...Okay."
"I'll pinch you at the right timing, and you cry. I'll handle the rest."
Honestly, I had no trust in him, but there was no choice.
She had to trust her brother one more time.
***
'No choice.'
Normally, I'd give up the moment a plan went awry, but I couldn't easily let go of this once-in-a-lifetime reversal opportunity that had come after 15 years post-regression.
"Come with me, sis."
I took my sister to the nearby lotto seller.
It was an era of romance where if an adult sent a kid to buy booze or smokes, they'd hand it over to the minor.
Lately, the government had cracked down, and more places refused to sell alcohol, tobacco, or lottery tickets to minors.
But with the all-purpose tool 'little sister'—practically a DX to the moon—I was confident I could buy lotto easily.
"Oh my, here on an errand from your parents?"
As we entered the supermarket, the lady greeted us warmly.
My face looked a bit older, but I still had that childish vibe.
"Yes, one lotto ticket and a pack of smokes, please."
"Sigh. What to do? Even if you say it's for your parents, we can't sell to kids anymore."
When the supermarket owner hesitated, I lightly pinched my sister's side.
"Ow, waaaah—! Daaaaddy—!"
My sister burst into tears from the sudden pain.
"It's okay. If Dad tries to hit you, big bro will protect you."
Park Jung-ah cried even harder as I hugged her.
That sight softened the supermarket owner's resolve inevitably.
"...Just this once. Make sure to tell your parents no more from now on."
"Thank you!"
"How about the lotto numbers?"
"Manual pick. These numbers, please."
In the process, our dad ended up with the neighborhood reputation of being trash who beats his kids.
But it was fine.
If we hit the lotto jackpot, Dad would surely forgive the trashed reputation.
We successfully bought the lotto from the supermarket and were heading home when.
"Oppa, why'd you buy smokes?"
My little sister cautiously asked.
"Gonna smoke 'em."
"Huh?"
"Thanks, sis. I was suffering from withdrawal anyway, so you solved it."
My little sister's icy glare turned my way, but I ignored it.
***
Late evening.
Park Young-man, father of the two kids, was heading home after overtime as usual.
"One pack of smokes, please."
"Tch."
He couldn't hide his bewilderment at the supermarket owner's cold attitude.
'...What's up? Did they have a fight or something?'