Chapter 20: Money, Money, Money (Revised)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 20: Money, Money, Money (Revised)
As Seo-un spoke, he raised his hand, hoisting the student named Seonghwan into the air along with it.
“Ack! It hurts! It’s really going to break!”
“Right. A human forearm is made of two bones: the radius and the ulna. If you apply pressure like this, they snap easily. Breaking a bone causes an incredible amount of pain.”
Crunch!
“Aaaagh! Please, stop!”
At the terrifying sound echoing from the boy's arm, the other students froze in place, unable to move a muscle.
“But did you know? In the elderly, these bones are several times weaker than yours. They fracture at the slightest impact. So, what do you think happens when a big, strong guy like you shoves a frail old person?”
“M-Mister… We were wrong…”
Seo-un ignored the thin student who had been standing beside the brute, snickering just moments ago. He continued his lecture.
“You look like you’ve trained. Judo?”
The student whose arm was caught nodded violently, tears blurring his vision.
“Then you must know a lot about bones. You know it takes a long time for them to set once they’re broken. Especially if the ulna or radius snaps sharply—they can pierce right through the skin.”
“P-Please…”
By now, tears were streaming down Seonghwan’s face, and drool leaked from the corner of his mouth.
“And you probably know this, too. With my grip strength, I could crush your thick bones so badly they’d never heal.”
“I’m sorry… Please… I have to… keep doing my sport…”
Only then did Seo-un release Seonghwan’s wrist.
“Right. At your age, you can make mistakes. When you do, you just have to admit it and apologize, like you’re doing now. Adults don’t get that luxury, but you’re still young, so you do. That’s why it’s important to realize your faults and know how to beg for forgiveness. Got it?”
Seo-un leaned down, bringing his face level with Seonghwan’s. Clutching his arm, Seonghwan nodded frantically while trembling.
While the boy stared at Seo-un with a face pale as a ghost, the sound of footsteps approached from behind.
“Hey, why are you guys drinking in the mountains? I told you to tell me if you didn't have a place to go. I could’ve made room for you at my brother’s shop.”
“Hehe, but Hyung-nim, I brought those girls from the vocational high school I mentioned last time.”
“Oh, really? Hm? What’s going on over there?”
Seo-un turned his head. A man in a black suit, clearly in his thirties, appeared, led by one of the students.
“Sigh.”
As Seo-un let out a long sigh, the skinny student ran toward the man.
“Hyung-nim! That bastard turned Seonghwan into a cripple!”
At those words, the man in the black suit approached Seo-un.
“Hey. Who the hell are you to do this to a kid who’s gonna be our ace?”
The man glanced at Seonghwan’s arm, which was already turning black and blue. He pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and waited for Seo-un’s response.
“I just told those kids that they can apologize for their mistakes because they’re young, right? But that doesn’t apply to adults. If you live your life refusing to admit your mistakes and being stubborn, you end up like this piece of shit. A piece of shit who grows old only to drink with schoolgirls, looking for a chance to get in their pants.”
The moment Seo-un finished speaking, the man’s fist flew.
Despite being even larger than Seonghwan, the man’s punch was remarkably fast. Looking at the incoming fist, Seo-un could tell by the calloused, scarred knuckles that this was a hand that had beaten many people before.
Seo-un lunged toward the punch, meeting it with his forehead.
Crack!
“Urgh!”
The man who threw the punch recoiled, clutching his hand with his other arm.
“Do you know where the weakest bones in the human body are? They’re in that precious fist of yours. The hand is mostly made of small, fragile bones. Conversely, the strongest bone is right here. The skull.”
“You… you son of a bitch…”
The man growled as he pulled a sharp sashimi knife from his jacket and pointed it at Seo-un.
“You kids watch closely, too. Unless you want to become a pathetic loser like him—someone who throws punches over a minor spat and pulls a knife when that doesn't work. If you end up like that, you’ll either stab someone and go to prison… or meet someone like me and get beaten to death.”
Taking advantage of the moment Seo-un was addressing the children, the man lunged with the knife toward Seo-un’s thigh.
However, the blade only sliced through empty air. Seo-un’s fist, extended lightly, struck the man’s shoulder.
Crunch!
To the man, the sound of his shoulder dislocating echoed in his head like a clap of thunder. His arm went limp, and a pain so intense it threatened to black out his consciousness surged through him. The man collapsed where he stood.
“It’s just a dislocated shoulder. Why are you falling down? Your legs should still be fine.”
“S-Stop. That’s enough.”
“You try to kill someone and then just say ‘stop’? I told you kids earlier, didn't I? For adults, it doesn't end just because you admit your mistake. Adults have to take responsibility for their actions. That could be legal responsibility, or…”
Snap.
Seo-un’s toe lightly clipped the man’s right knee as he lay there. The man began to roll on the ground, foaming at the mouth.
“Guh…”
“It could be responsibility in the form of violence. Those who live by violence fall before a greater violence.”
The skinny student, who had run to the man so confidently, dropped to his knees the moment his eyes met Seo-un’s.
“I’m sorry!”
“Whatever. It’s your life, live it however you want.”
After finishing his piece, Seo-un gave the groaning man a light kick to the chin to knock him out, then left the clearing and headed down the mountain.
*
All the way home, Seo-un shook his head, his face flushing red.
“Ugh… Who do I think I am, lecturing and showing off my strength against civilians…”
Now that his head had cooled a bit, he felt incredibly embarrassed. He felt like the protagonist of some third-rate movie, acting like a self-righteous superhero.
In this world where martial arts had vanished, the internal power stored in his dantian was over half a gapja. No matter how tough a man was, as long as he was an ordinary person, he was no match for Seo-un.
Thinking back, beating up such a man in front of children and lecturing them as if he were someone special was not something he should have done.
‘Of course, I didn't use any internal energy…’
In truth, the opponent wasn't even enough of a threat to warrant using it.
“Whatever, I don’t know.”
He hurried his pace down the mountain, trying to cool his burning face.
The reason he had been so heavy-handed today was largely due to the school violence he had witnessed often during his own student days. The so-called iljin and the kids they preyed on.
Whether by luck or otherwise, he had never been involved with those types, but he had a close friend who had been tormented by them. Back then, those punks—who now seemed like nothing—had appeared more terrifying and massive than anyone else to Seo-un.
The memory of not having the courage to step up and help his friend was one of the things that made him feel ashamed throughout his life. Perhaps because of that memory, Seo-un had found himself spouting the words he had wanted to say back then, delivering a lecture he couldn't give.
“The storm and stress of youth, huh…”
With those final words, Seo-un entered his house and sat in a cross-legged position.
A month had passed since Seo-un returned from the other world. He spent every day the same way. During the day, he focused on circulating his energy and condensing his power. At night, he practiced Boundless Fist and Muryeong Phantom Step in the clearing by the mountain spring.
Since that incident, the students in uniforms had stopped coming to the clearing.
As Boundless Fist and Muryeong Phantom Step became second nature to his body, Seo-un began to worry.
‘I don’t know when I’ll be dragged back. Will this be enough?’
He had digested the Blue Dragon’s Lost Cintamani, but even so, his power was nowhere near the internal energy he had accumulated in the other world. For some reason, he felt a growing dread about participating in Cloyd Survival again.
One day, while he was absorbed in his martial arts training, Seo-un’s phone rang. He tilted his head in confusion as the phone, which he usually used only as a clock, vibrated.
‘Is it spam?’
When the word ‘Mother’ appeared on the screen, Seo-un felt a sudden pang of guilt.
“Hello?”
—Seo-un. You’re doing well, right?
“Of course. How are you, Mother?”
—I’m fine. I just called because I hadn't heard from you in a while and wanted to see how you were doing. I was wondering how your studies at the academy were going.
Seo-un felt a sting of conscience. He had told his parents he was attending a TOEIC academy and had moved out into a cheap studio apartment immediately after his discharge to be independent.
‘Instead of studying at an academy, I’m practicing martial arts.’
Seo-un swallowed the words he could never say out loud and forced a bright tone.
“I-I’m doing well. Don’t worry.”
—Right. I’m sure you are. It must be hard, balancing a part-time job and the academy.
“Yeah… It’s not that bad.”
His conscience hurt even more because he had boasted to his parents—who weren't well-off—that he would earn his own living expenses and pocket money while living alone.
—I see…
Sensing his mother’s hesitation, Seo-un asked directly.
“Is something wrong?”
—Well… I was wondering if you had any… extra money from your part-time job?
“Money? What happened?”
—Oh, never mind. Between your academy fees and rent, what money would you have? I shouldn't have brought it up. Don’t worry about it, Seo-un. Make sure you eat well. I’ll come up to see you soon.
“Mother! If it’s money… I have a little extra. What’s going on?”
—The thing is… your father told me not to tell you… but he’s in the hospital right now. He got hurt a bit and needs surgery on his back, but we’re a little short on the surgery costs right now.
His father had worked hard his entire life without a single day of rest. It wasn't a high-paying, prestigious job, but he had supported the family by driving a forklift. Hearing that his father was ill sent a surge of emotion through Seo-un.
“How did he get hurt? Anyway, I’ll prepare as much money as I can. How much are you short?”
—About two million won… Your father’s been having a hard time lately… and we canceled all the insurance policies a while ago. If I’d known this would happen, I would’ve kept them.
Seo-un gripped the necklace he had pulled from his subspace and spoke firmly.
“Don’t worry about the money. I have enough for that. More importantly… you’re okay, right, Mother?”
—I’m always healthy.
‘Mom is fine.’ It was the same thing she had said like a habit since he was a child.
“Mother, don’t worry. I’ll send the money within the day.”
After hanging up, his eyes grew misty. His parents had spent their lives moving from one rental to another. His father, in particular, had worked harder than anyone, but his income decreased as he aged. Since his job was easily replaceable, he had to change companies frequently.
Despite living so diligently, the result was a middle-aged life where they lacked the funds for surgery. The thought made Seo-un even more emotional.
‘First…’
Seo-un put the necklace in his backpack, slung it over his shoulder, and headed out.
He searched the internet on his smartphone while taking the subway to Seoul. He headed straight for Jongno because he knew there were many places there to sell jewelry. It was truly the mecca of jewelry shops; he saw countless stores as he walked down the street.
Seo-un hovered in front of several shops, peering inside anxiously, unable to bring himself to enter.
‘It’s a necklace without a certificate of authenticity… What if they report me?’
Worried that he might get into trouble instead of making a sale, Seo-un eventually steeled his resolve and stepped inside a shop.
“Welcome. Can I show you something?”
“No. I brought a necklace to sell.”
“May I see it?”
Seo-un pulled Askro's Necklace from his bag. The young female owner, who had been watching him with a smile, widened her eyes as she saw the necklace emerge from the bag.
“This is…”
She took the necklace as if entranced. Seeing her eyes grow hazy as she examined it, Seo-un clenched his fists in anxiety.
“The craftsmanship is incredible.”
Askro's Necklace was quite ornate, featuring a long, decorative chain. As a symbol of the Askro Magic Society—an organization even nobles deferred to—it was a magnificent piece.
“It doesn't look like it’s from this country…”
“It’s an heirloom that’s been passed down for five generations.”
“Five generations? The craftsmanship certainly isn't modern.”
Seo-un answered as calmly as possible. The woman looked at him and spoke.
“This piece deserves to be recognized for more than just the gold value… Are you sure you want to sell it here?”
She spoke as if it were a genuine shame to lose such a valuable item. Seo-un let out a sigh and replied.
“My father needs surgery. It’s not something I should be selling like this… but I’m desperate, so I have no choice.”
Rather than telling a complete lie, he mixed in the truth. The woman nodded as if she understood the situation.
“I assume you don’t have a certificate of authenticity…”
He felt a pang of guilt at her words but simply nodded in response.
“It’s pure gold.”
“Yes. I was told it’s pure gold.”
“Let’s weigh it.”
When she placed the necklace on the scale, it weighed 140 grams.
“That’s a little over thirty-seven don. Our current buying price is 160,000 won per don…”
She tapped on a calculator while looking at the necklace. After a moment of thought, she spoke.
“If you sell it to me, I’ll give you 6.1 million won. It’s a significant weight, and it clearly has antique value, so I’m giving you more. You won’t get this much at a pawn shop. Other stores probably won’t be able to match it either.”
Surprised that the necklace weighed more than he expected, Seo-un nodded immediately.
“I’ll sell it.”
Even as he spoke, he continued his act, looking at the necklace with a somber, regretful expression. Fearing he might change his mind, the woman quickly handed him a piece of paper.
“Please write your name and resident registration number here, and show me your ID.”
He did as instructed. After checking his ID, she smiled and said, “Please write down an account number.”
As soon as he provided the number, she moved quickly to transfer the funds via her phone.
“Please check your account.”
When he checked his phone, the large sum of 6.1 million won had indeed been deposited.
“It’s there. Thank you.”
“Yes. Have a safe trip home.”
As Seo-un glanced back into the shop from outside, he saw the woman examining the necklace with a wide smile on her face. Since it wasn't stolen goods, providing his information didn't bother him. However, he felt a lingering bitterness, wondering if he had sold a priceless antique for a pittance.
‘Whatever. It’s not like I have a way to sell it through proper channels anyway.’
He decided to be satisfied with earning much more than he had anticipated. On his way back to the subway, he sent 4 million won to his mother’s account. As he was heading home, his phone rang.
“Yes, Mother.”
—Seo-un! Where did you get this much money to send?
“It’s money I saved up in the military and from my part-time job, after taking out my living expenses.”
At his nonchalant reply, his mother asked in a worried voice.
—You didn't take out a loan or something, did you?
“Mother, how could I get a loan when I don’t even have a job? It’s extra money, so don’t worry about it and use it.”
When he spoke dismissively, his mother seemed convinced.
—I’m so sorry.
“I told you it’s fine. I’ll stop by the hospital soon. Make sure you eat well.”
—Alright. Thank you, son.
After hanging up, he felt a pang of sadness that his mother was so worried over a mere 4 million won. Of course, it was by no means a small amount of money. If he hadn't had Askro's Necklace, or if he hadn't participated in Cloyd Survival, he would have been in a desperate situation himself. Still, seeing his parents struggle over a few million won weighed heavily on his heart.
There were many wealthy people in the world, and those with financial abundance were countless. But there were also many who lived diligently yet were always chased by money, unable to find peace. Himself and his family, known by the name ‘commoners.’
As he thought about how common it was for people in this world to cry over money, worry over money, and sometimes even have their lives threatened because of it, Seo-un’s eyes grew sharp.
‘This opportunity. I’m never letting it go.’