Chapter 39

The next day. Han Yoorim was studying nonchalantly next to him.

But her feet stayed still. Even if she could fool others, she couldn’t fool Ga Joon-sik’s eyes.

As soon as lunchtime arrived, Ga Joon-sik forcibly dragged Han Yoorim, who was trying to study without moving an inch, to the rooftop.

“I’m sorry.”

On the green-painted rooftop, Han Yoorim muttered softly.

Ga Joon-sik shrugged as if it was nothing.

“Not at all. It was just the average for a repeat student. Don’t worry about it.”

“It’s so absurd that it’s actually refreshing. Don’t try to comfort me like that elsewhere. And I’m not a repeat student, I’m a minus 7-time repeat student.”

Looking back, Han Yoorim was a bit strange.

Her average score for the third mock exam was 4. For a fifth-grader in elementary school, it was impressive, but by the standards of a genius, it was still lacking.

After seeing Han Yoorim’s March grades, Ga Joon-sik was struck by one question.

What exactly did Han Yoorim’s parents see in her to put her through such an absurd education process?

A process so abnormal that it sacrificed friends and school life.

Han Yoorim didn’t have any outstandingly remarkable traits. For example, she wasn’t already at the top level in math or anything like that.

Well, looking at Han Yoorim’s learning ability, her scores would definitely rise after a few years of studying. She was clearly smart. Ga Joon-sik thought so too.

But that’s something you can only know now. He didn’t want to say it was a good choice just because the results turned out well.

This wasn’t something Han Yoorim wanted either. She might say she did, but, well, from Ga Joon-sik’s perspective, it wasn’t the case.

“You look gloomy.”

“My skin tone is naturally like this.”

“I don’t like depressing atmospheres.”

“Don’t worry. I feel the same.”

But knowing that didn’t mean Ga Joon-sik could do anything about it.

This was another family’s problem. An outsider meddling wouldn’t lead to anything good.

So Ga Joon-sik quietly apologized over the phone yesterday. There was no point in getting angry or arguing—it wouldn’t solve anything.

Ga Joon-sik bent down and made eye contact with Han Yoorim.

“If it’s hard, you can talk to me anytime, okay?”

“Understood.”

The matter with Han Yoorim was resolved smoothly. Ga Joon-sik and Han Yoorim didn’t bring it up again and continued their diligent repeat student life.

Time passed.

June. When the weather was starting to get hot.

Han Yoorim said, “I want to see the sea.”

It was a weekday morning, and they still had classes to attend. It was a sudden request, but Ga Joon-sik didn’t argue and borrowed a friend’s car.

After driving for four hours straight, they arrived at the beach on the East Sea. Han Yoorim, in a white dress, walked across the sandy shore.

“Isn’t it hot?”

“It is.”

Perhaps feeling tired quickly, Han Yoorim sat down next to Ga Joon-sik.

Han Yoorim stared blankly at the sea. Ga Joon-sik got up and bought ice cream from a convenience store. It was plum-flavored.

Silence continued as they ate the ice cream.

After a while, Han Yoorim broke the silence.

“I might not be able to see you anymore.”

“Really?”

“It seems I didn’t get the grades I wanted. From now on, I’ll be living in a dormitory academy where everything is strictly controlled. No outings, and I won’t even be able to use a smartphone.”

“You can’t use a smartphone now either.”

Ga Joon-sik rubbed his forehead. He had expected this, but it was so predictable it gave him a headache.

Perhaps she thought this was her only chance to talk. Han Yoorim calmly shared her past.

Han Yoorim had an older sister six years her senior.

She was a genius.

Not the kind made by the media, but a real genius.

Without even giving the media time to notice, she had raced ahead in an instant.

Without anyone’s help, she took the High School Equivalency Exam on her own and secured admission to Korea University.

This happened when she was in fifth grade.

Han Yoorim’s family celebrated. They boasted to the neighborhood, and relatives watched her sister with a mix of envy and expectation.

And then there was a car accident.

A common tragedy.

If you’ve heard this far, you can probably guess what happened next.

The lost expectations soon focused on Han Yoorim.

To meet those expectations, Han Yoorim worked hard. Nonstop, continuously.

Fortunately, Han Yoorim was also smart, but unfortunately, she wasn’t as much of a genius as her sister. Her legs were too short, and she was too young to meet the sky-high expectations.

“My sister was an eccentric.”

Han Yoorim’s sister hated playing and was only interested in academics.

Naturally, her parents benchmarked her and controlled Han Yoorim’s life accordingly.

They didn’t care whether it suited Han Yoorim or not.

“I see.”

Ga Joon-sik had heard everything, but he had nothing to say.

He had too much to say, and yet nothing at all.

Whatever he said would be meaningless. It wouldn’t make a difference.

But.

“Wasn’t it hard?”

Still, he could at least say this much to a friend.

That’s what he thought.

Instead of answering, Han Yoorim leaned her head against Ga Joon-sik’s side.

Han Yoorim slowly opened her mouth.

“Ga Joon-sik, you really seem like you’re 30.”

“That’s a misunderstanding.”

“If you had married early, you’d have a daughter my age by now.”

“It’s a misunderstanding that I’m 30, but even if I were, having a daughter like you would be tough. Even if I got married at 20, it’d still be hard.”

“If you try a little harder, maybe it’ll work out.”

“Speeding isn’t allowed.”

As they lightened the mood with nonsense, Han Yoorim added briefly.

“…I wish you were my dad.”

Tears poured out.

Unable to hold back, Ga Joon-sik suddenly stood up and extended his pinky finger to Han Yoorim.

“Let’s make a promise.”

“A promise?”

“Even if you go to college like this, you won’t have any friends, right? Isn’t that so?”

“I can make new ones.”

“Do you really think that’ll work? Don’t take the hard road when there’s an easy one. Just follow my lead.”

Han Yoorim tilted her head. The clever kid was gone, and only this kind of kid remained.

Ga Joon-sik declared,

“I’m definitely getting into Korea University this time. Let’s get in together.”

“Do you think that’s possible?”

“Hey. Once you’re a college student, you’re free. If you’ve already gotten into Korea University, what can your parents do? You’ll have to go home early since you’re young, but they won’t control a college student’s life. You can play games or watch anime in your free time, and they won’t say anything.”

Judging by the situation, they might actually make her study for the civil service exam, but that wasn’t something to worry about now.

The important thing was that Han Yoorim held onto hope.

“Scared?”

“Provoking me? You’re 100 years too early.”

Han Yoorim suddenly stood up and hooked her finger with his.

“If I don’t get in this time, I’ll graduate before you, so keep that in mind.”

“I shouldn’t be the one saying this.”

After returning from the beach, Ga Joon-sik almost got into a big fight with Han Yoorim’s father, but thanks to Han Yoorim’s cold-toned mediation—likely influenced by her deceased sister—things were resolved peacefully.

Ga Joon-sik poured everything into his studies.

He gave it his all. He wondered if he’d ever study this hard again in his life.

July, August, September, and October passed.

Finally, November arrived—the day of the college entrance exam.

He solved the problems with all his might. After finishing the last subject, Ga Joon-sik returned home exhausted.

Soon, the answer key was posted online.

Trying to calm his trembling heart, he checked his answers.

……

He didn’t even need to look at the expected cutoff scores.

Ga Joon-sik bit his lip.

If he thought he could get the results he wanted by slacking off for 18 years and studying hard for just one year, he was seriously mistaken.

Still, his score had improved a lot.

One year. Just one more year of studying, and he could get into Korea University.

“I can’t support you anymore.”

“Dad, look at how much my grades improved. If I study for one more year, getting into Korea University isn’t just a dream.”

“No.”

Asking his parents for help was a failure.

His savings were all gone.

……In the end, reality is like this.

Even with determination, not everything gets resolved.

I’m sorry, Yoorim.

I can’t keep my promise.

Frustrated, Ga Joon-sik sighed and looked for the quickest way to enlist, eventually leaving for the military.

[END?]

……

Spring came.

Ga Joon-sik entered Gwanak-ro with a much older face.

“I can’t believe this actually worked.”

When you’re filled with determination, even your military scores go up.

I used to think only psychopaths could do that, but here I am. Live long enough, and you’ll see everything.

I’m two years late on my promise.

But at least it’s not four years late, so I guess it’s safe?

Feeling like a latecomer, Ga Joon-sik scratched his cheek awkwardly.

Then.

“You’ve turned into an old man. Did you go to the military or something?”

A slightly matured girl’s voice reached Ga Joon-sik’s ears.

He turned his head and saw Han Yoorim.

Overjoyed, Ga Joon-sik shouted.

“Hey! You should’ve left your contact info!”

“How could I leave it if I didn’t have it? If anyone should’ve left it, it’s you. With that brain of yours, you probably didn’t pass. You’re just here to visit, right?”

“I passed, that’s why I’m here. What about you?”

“I passed too.”

Hmm.

Ga Joon-sik crossed his arms.

Something felt off.

“Hey.”

“Speak.”

“If you passed two years ago, you’d have given me so much grief for being two years late. But you’re quiet, so you must’ve passed this time too, huh?”

“…I’m in my second year of middle school this year. Even if I pass now, I’ll still be a few years ahead of you, Joon-sik.”

“Why are you dragging this out so much?”

It felt oddly nice knowing I’d get to see this kid’s college life.

Ga Joon-sik smiled and asked.

“So, how does it feel to get into college?”

“Me?”

“Who else would I be talking about?”

At that, Han Yoorim.

“It definitely feels good to be alive.”

She smiled brightly.

[END]

[NO.99 Paternal Love is Also a Form of Love]

……

Ga Joon-sik took off his VR device and burst into tears.

At the same time, a donation came in.

<ㅇㅇ님이 10000원 기부>

– Did this person just come back from inside the game?

The chat agreed.

―――

I thought he was crazy.

I was really shocked when I could actually taste the air tteokbokki.

But the immersion in the game is really good. I’ve never seen a visual novel like this before. No matter what the player says, the NPCs respond naturally, so it feels like you’re really in the world lol

―――

“She’s not an NPC… She’s my daughter.”

Ga Joon-sik, still unable to distinguish between reality and the game.

Seeing him, Han Yoorim nodded.

Now in his 30s, he cried a lot. It must be the female hormones kicking in.

It was also surprising that he went for the “Han Yoorim” route.

To make the people who absolutely need to clear all routes happy, the entry difficulty was set very high, but he did it on his first try.

To enter that route, you first had to gain Han Yoorim’s favor.

This was no easy task.

You had to pass the judgment system I set up, and I thought people would struggle to figure out the criteria.

Moreover, the “Han Yoorim” route forbade getting close to other heroines. You could only raise Han Yoorim’s favorability, and any strange behavior would get you kicked out immediately.

For example, running to Han Yoorim’s parents and shouting to liberate her, or something like that.

Indeed. The industry’s top giant broadcaster was on another level.

Not only did he see the “Han Yoorim” route ending from the start, but he also immersed himself so purely that he even made Han Yoorim panic (she thought there was a bug and checked the game three times). He was a formidable opponent in many ways.

This was a satisfying beta test. Of course, it was a shame that Ga Joon-sik dodged so skillfully that we couldn’t show him a bad ending, but Han Yoorim expressed her gratitude with a donation.

<한유림님이 100000원 기부>

– You’re really skilled. By the way, there’s still one more “Han Yoorim” related route, but you can’t reach it without clearing the remaining 98 routes. I recommend taking your time with it later.

It was a donation worrying about Ga Joon-sik, who had immersed himself in the game for 16 hours without even going to the bathroom.

If I tell him there’s still a long way to go, he’ll take breaks, right?

Please take care of your health while playing the game.

Thank you.