Chapter 17. I Will Be Filial (2)

Mother sighed deeply, as if she were frustrated.

"Oh! I can't live like this. Why did you do such a thing? And how did you get into a company and then quit it? You should have apologized and continued working."

After a long scolding, Mother redirected her anger at Father.

"Isn't it because you always say such useless things that Mira learned from you?"

"Hmm."

Father, having nothing to say, cleared his throat and turned his head.

Sena asked, as if she couldn't understand.

"Wasn't it for the company? If you reported the problems, wouldn't the company give you an award? I'm short on pocket money these days."

"Award? Ha!"

If this kid had ever worked, she wouldn't say such things.

It's fortunate that he wasn't sued. If the problems hadn't been confirmed, he might have been taken to the audit team for investigation by now.

Father put down his chopsticks and asked me.

"What do you plan to do from now on? Can you find a job elsewhere?"

"Hmm......"

It will be tough with the rumors spreading. Not only did I report internally, but I also confronted the chairman's son. It will be difficult to find a job in large or small companies.

"For now, I plan to take a break and prepare for something else."

Sena, who had been listening, pouted and said.

"Anyone who hears you would think you've worked for three years. You only worked for six months and then quit."

"......"

If you include the time from my previous life, it feels like I've worked for three years.

I looked at my parents. They looked younger than the last time I saw them.

Although things are fine now, they will become very difficult later, and they will suffer a lot.

After the Primus incident, the company went bankrupt, and my father didn't find a job, only working part-time and playing games. He was always worried when I said I would open a chicken restaurant with Seon-woo.

In my previous life, I only caused them trouble, but this time it's different.

I said confidently.

"You don't need to worry too much. In this life...... No, this time, I will work hard to earn money and be filial."

Perhaps they felt my sincerity.

My parents looked at me with a proud expression. I seized the opportunity and said immediately.

"That's why I want to borrow some money."

Unexpectedly, my parents were startled.

"Money? Money?"

"Yes. I need money to work hard and be filial."

Mother scolded.

"My, this child. Where do we have money?"

"Can't we get a loan using this house as collateral?"

"......"

"......"

The atmosphere around us seemed to turn cold.

Was it just my imagination?

Sena got up and looked around.

"Just a moment, Dad. I'll go find a stick right away."

"......"

What a sibling I have.

* * *

I went to a nearby meat restaurant with my father.

We ordered two servings of pork belly and soju.

Thinking about it, it had been a long time since I had a one-on-one conversation with my father. I didn't come home often.

"Have a drink."

Father poured soju into my glass and said.

"You did the right thing."

"Excuse me?"

"If it was something that needed to be done and it was the right thing, then you did the right thing. They say you prevented a bigger disaster? Then you did well. Don't worry too much about what others say."

I was surprised.

"You didn't say that earlier."

Father smiled awkwardly.

"I was just worried about what your mother would say."

While the meat was cooking, we clinked our glasses. Father's face quickly turned red.

"Do you really plan to start a business instead of finding a job?"

"Yes."

"Is it because you think it will be hard to find a job elsewhere?"

"No. I've been thinking about starting a business since I decided to quit."

"Why?"

"Because now is the best opportunity."

The world is always changing, even if we don't notice it.

But changes don't happen gradually.

They happen explosively and simultaneously at a certain point. Now is the beginning of that. I need to move before others do.

Father nodded.

"You should try anything at your age. If you're going to start a business, it's better to do it early. Even if you fail, it will be a valuable experience. Can you work hard?"

I said confidently.

"Yes. I will work hard."

Father nodded readily.

"Then it's settled. I can try to get you about 100 million won."

He didn't even ask what I planned to do with the money.

"Are you sure it's okay?"

"I was planning to give you about 100 million won when you get married. Think of it as getting your marriage fund early. But if you lose it all this time, you won't get anything when you get married. Understand?"

"I understand."

At this age, I didn't realize how hard my parents worked. I only realized later that our family situation wasn't that good.

Even if we are family, there are many things we don't know unless we pay attention.

Although they didn't say it, the company's situation isn't that good either. In fact, the factory will close in six years.

So, I really need to do well this time.

I have the confidence to do well.

"Let's have a drink."

I said cautiously.

"Father, can I ask you something?"

"What?"

"Since you're giving me 100 million won...... No, can you give me 50 million more? I really need the money. I'll pay it back as soon as I earn it."

Father's hand holding the glass trembled as he shouted.

"You really, you really!"

* * *

When I returned to my house in Gangnam, I organized the tasks I needed to do in order.

I was making a detailed plan when the prodigal son who had left home to develop a game returned.

He looked so haggard that he could be mistaken for a homeless person. Actually, looking at his appearance, it seemed like he had been homeless.

"Is the development finished now?"

Seon-woo nodded, looking exhausted.

"The development is finished, and we're fixing bugs now. The release is coming soon, but there are so many bugs it's killing me. The carriage keeps spinning in one spot, and when I get hit by a monster, my lower body sinks into the ground."

According to Seon-woo, no game is free of bugs. It would be ideal to fix them all, but it's practically impossible.

Therefore, as long as the bugs don't significantly affect gameplay, they release the game and fix the issues with patches later.

This is why characters can pass through walls and horses can fly in the air.

"Still, I think this game will be a huge hit."

"Huh?"

The game being developed by LB Studio is called Fantasia Tales. As the name suggests, it's an MMORPG based on a fantasy world.

Seon-woo said confidently.

"As you know, PC MMORPGs have been stagnant recently. There are almost no new releases. The development costs are high compared to mobile games, but the profits are low."

"So?"

"But mobile is mobile, and PC is PC. PC MMORPGs have their own unique charm, right? If a big game comes out now, it can attract a lot of pent-up demand. The company is also very excited. They've invested a record amount of money, you know?"

Not only the company, but the shareholders are also very excited, and the stock price is hitting record highs every day.

Well, the result is......

I said casually.

"Could it fail?"

"What nonsense? I bet my entire fortune and my wrist that it will be a huge hit. What will you bet?"

"......"

Yes. The game will fail.

I can bet my entire fortune and my wrist that it will be shut down within a year.

What good is good graphics? The excessive诱导 of in-game purchases is also a problem, but the decisive blow was the manipulation of gacha probabilities and the creation of characters and items by the operators, which deceived other players.

The company's response to these issues was even worse.

Ultimately, disappointed players turned their backs and left.

But Seon-woo, who didn't know this, said happily.

"Maybe I'll become a star developer and start my own game company later?"

"......"

No. You won't.

You'll open a chicken restaurant with me and fry chicken.

Seon-woo, who had been lost in a futile daydream, asked me.

"By the way, I heard your company was completely turned upside down. Who did that? Could it be someone you know?"

I nodded.

"I know. It's someone you know well."

"You know? Who?"

"It's me."

"Huh?"

"I exposed it."

"Stop joking."

"I'm serious."

"......"

Seon-woo, who had been dazed for a moment, shouted.

"Why? Why!?"

I said matter-of-factly.

"Maybe I couldn't stand the injustice?"

"What nonsense? I've never seen anyone who can't stand injustice like you."

"......"

Was I that bad?

This time is an exception. I'm not that justice-driven, as you say.

"So what happened? Didn't the company do anything?"

"What did they do?"

"Didn't you get noticed at the company?"

"I wasn't noticed."

"Then what?"

"What can I do? So I quit."

"......"

Seon-woo was speechless again.

I hadn't expected that my friend would be unemployed when I returned home after a long time.

"Then, what will you do from now on?"

I was about to tell him.

"I've made a plan."

"What plan?"

"I want to start a business with the money I've saved."

"With what money? Did you get a severance package?"

"I didn't get a severance package, but I made money from investing in Redhole Studio."

Seon-woo was surprised.

"Really? You bought Redhole Studio stock?"

"Yes. 5 million won."

"That's risen a lot."

"It's probably worth 100 million won now."

Seon-woo's mouth dropped open.

"100 million won!? I should have bought it then!"

It's a common reaction when someone makes money from stocks.

"Why didn't you buy it?"

"I didn't expect the game to be so successful. No one in the industry predicted it. I was also surprised when I tried it. It was definitely well-made. How did you know?"

"I heard information from various places while working."

If I hadn't made this money, I would have been in big trouble.

"What will you do with this money?"

"I want to start an investment company and invest properly."

I was going to quit the company anyway, regardless of this incident.

As a securities company employee, there are many restrictions on investments. I have to report my investment amounts and trading records to the company regularly.

Some employees even trade under a pseudonym.

"Can you do it with 100 million won?"

I nodded.

"It's not enough. So I borrowed 150 million won from my parents."

I almost got hit with a glass, but Father lent it to me, warning that both of us would be dead if Mother found out.

"Wow! 250 million won."

"And I also got a personal credit loan. 50 million won."

Seon-woo asked, as if he couldn't understand.

"You're not an employee anymore."

A personal credit loan is given based on personal credit without collateral. I could get 50 million won because I was in a job with the four major insurances. If not, I wouldn't have gotten the loan.

"Yes. So I got it right before I quit."

Of course, the bank, not being stupid, will raise the interest rate to double digits and demand immediate repayment as soon as they find out I've quit.

But it doesn't matter since I only need it until then.

"So you have 300 million won in total?"

"Yes. You should invest too."