The Happiest Day in the World
***
With the table laid out with spicy seafood stew and seafood hot pot, Seowoon's father dropped his chopsticks.
Clatter.
"What did you just say…?"
"Seowoon! Where did you say you've been going?"
"That thing that's all over TV these days… I've been going into that other-world game."
"I thought you were working while preparing to return to school?"
Seowoon, who had cautiously brought it up, was flustered to see how shocked his father appeared.
"Yes. I've been earning money through the game."
"Ah…"
Seeing his mother's eyes instantly fill with tears, Seowoon was at a loss for what to say.
As he hesitated, unsure whether to follow his father who had just walked out or comfort his crying mother, Juriel tapped him on the side and motioned with her eyes.
She gestured that she and Lilingwei would speak with his mother, telling him to go after his father. Seowoon hurriedly stepped outside.
His father was just coming out of the convenience store beside the restaurant with a pack of cigarettes.
Seowoon quickly approached his father, who was opening the cigarette pack—cigarettes he had supposedly quit after marrying his wife.
"Dad… I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier."
Click.
With a flick of the lighter, his father lit the cigarette and exhaled a deep breath along with the smoke.
Looking up at his son—now much taller than himself—his father reached out with a rough hand, weathered by life, and patted him on the shoulder.
"I'm sorry, son. I'm the one who should be sorry."
"Dad! Don't say that!"
At the sight of his father's defeated expression, a lump welled up in Seowoon's chest, and his voice rose without him meaning to.
Recently, stories about Cloyd Survival dominated TV every day.
From debates about legislation for returnees to reports that teenagers now dreamed of being chosen by Cloyd and becoming Awakened—everyone knew what the place was like.
With the constant coverage from news, variety shows, dramas, and newspapers, even those who didn't want to know had no choice but to.
Death.
All participants, except for one individual or a single squad, were destined to die.
They had to endure pain that would be unimaginable even once on Earth—again and again. Those who had been through it spoke frankly about its brutal nature.
What parent could be happy to hear that their child was voluntarily entering such a place?
Seowoon, sensing the heaviness in his father's heart—no doubt weighed by guilt over their humble financial situation—spoke, trying to steady his voice.
"Dad, I'm not struggling in there. I'm actually doing really well. Your son is seriously doing amazing."
"It must… hurt a lot, and be hard, right?"
That single sentence from his father somehow brought tears to Seowoon's eyes.
Of course it had been painful and far from easy, but he hadn't really thought of it that way until now. His father's words shook something inside him.
He quickly turned away to wipe his tears, then spoke again as if nothing was wrong.
"It's not hard at all! You know I never studied and only played games growing up. That world is just like the games I used to play. It's really fun."
His father quietly watched his son's excited face, then snuffed out the cigarette.
"If you say so, then I believe you."
"Come on, let's go back in. I'm hungry."
With that, he brought his father back inside. His mother seemed to have calmed down somewhat, though her eyes were still red.
"Welcome back. The food's getting cold."
"Yes, let's all sit down and eat."
As the uneasy, heavy meal continued, the usually quiet Lilingwei and Juriel spoke up enthusiastically to lighten the mood.
This was precisely why Seowoon had brought them along.
He'd anticipated that bringing up the topic of changing nationality would unsettle his parents, so he had hoped they would act as a buffer.
Although he hadn't even gotten to the nationality topic yet, things had already turned tense. Thankfully, the two girls helped steer the conversation and ease the mood.
"Oh my, then you two aren't from this world?"
Startled, Seowoon's mother was lightly tapped on the arm by his father.
"You can't say it like that."
"Oh! Right."
She quickly covered her mouth, realizing belatedly how inappropriate the wording had been.
"No, it's okay. That expression fits perfectly. We really are from another world."
"I knew it. I thought it was odd how fluent you both were in Korean."
While Lilingwei speaking Korean fluently wasn't that surprising, it was probably more shocking that a blue-eyed, blond Westerner like Juriel spoke it so naturally.
After chatting for a while and finishing their meal, Seowoon began to glance around, gauging the right moment to get to the real topic.
"So, about what I was saying earlier… Your son's really doing well. You both went through so much to raise me."
His lengthy lead-in made it clear he had more to say, putting his parents on edge once again.
Just when they thought nothing could surprise them anymore, their son began speaking cautiously, causing their hearts to tighten.
"You know Sweden, right?"
Bringing up Sweden out of nowhere, his parents blinked and looked at each other.
"Well, of course we know it."
"But why bring up Sweden all of a sudden?"
Seowoon took a long drink from the half-full glass of water on the table, then continued.
"Because I'm doing so well, countries have been asking me to come represent them. And I decided to partner with Sweden and change my nationality."
"Seowoon!"
This time, his mother's voice rose in pitch.
It had already been a huge shock to learn that her son was entering a deadly game on a regular basis, and now he was suddenly saying he was moving to a faraway country?
"No, it's just on paper. I'll still live in Korea like I always have."
"Just on paper? Is that even possible? Wouldn't that cause all sorts of issues…?"
"They're taking care of all those little details."
As he answered, Seowoon discreetly checked his father's expression—but it was hard to read.
"And actually… they offered to arrange it so you both could also change your nationality and live under Sweden's system too."
"Us?"
Clink.
Unlike his mother, who was clearly shocked, his father set his water glass down on the table, looking more discomforted than surprised.
"Seowoon, your mother and I have lived our whole lives as Koreans. What's the point of suddenly changing our nationality now?"
"They're offering a lot of conveniences. No taxes, no traffic tickets, and more."
Watching his father's expression, Seowoon pulled two briefcases out of his subspace.
His parents' eyes went wide.
"Oh my goodness!"
"It's nothing special. Just think of it like a magical bag."
"Well… that's convenient."
Seowoon's mother looked back and forth between the bag and Seowoon's hand as if in disbelief.
When Seowoon opened the bag and began explaining the contents one by one, both of his parents quietly listened to him.
"Seowoon's dad… how much is ten million dollars?"
"Hey now. Is money really that important when it comes to giving up your nationality?"
"Well… they're asking us to increase our jeonse deposit again. If that money can cover it…"
She trailed off, glancing cautiously at her husband.
Jeonse.
Just hearing the word made Seowoon shudder.
The exhausting housing system that forced them to move every two years.
"It's a bit over 10 billion won. Assuming 1,100 won per dollar, that'd be around 11 billion won."
At that, both their eyes widened.
"How much? Did you say billion?"
Seowoon nodded with a soft smile, and in that moment, the reality of everything he had said began to sink in for his parents.
Until now, they'd thought their son was just putting on an adorable show of bravado to put their minds at ease—but apparently, that wasn't the case.
Having lived long enough, they understood that the world often measured a person's worth in money.
And if someone was giving not just Seowoon but also his family over ten billion won, it meant their son was valued far beyond anything they could've imagined.
"So… you're saying this card has 10 billion won on it?"
"Yes. I know better than anyone how hard you've both worked all your lives. Now it's time to stop working and enjoy yourselves—travel together, relax."
"Honey…"
His mother slipped the card into her wallet as she glanced at her husband, who still looked unconvinced and stiff with indecision.
"We can still live in Korea?"
"Of course. You'll be treated even better than diplomats. Honestly, it'll be far more convenient than if you kept your Korean citizenship."
"Exactly. Didn't Seowoon just explain all that earlier? He said we'd have immunity."
At his mother's words, Seowoon nodded again with a smile.
"Yes. Diplomatic immunity. And like I mentioned, air travel is free too. You'll be able to travel overseas easily. Remember how you two always said it was your dream to visit a hot spring in Japan? Now's your chance. Go comfortably and enjoy yourselves."
When Seowoon brought up that memory—the time they'd watched snow falling over an open-air hot spring on TV and talked about wanting to visit someday—his father's expression noticeably softened.
"Let's do what Seowoon says. You think our son would ever lead us astray?"
As his mother repeated herself, his father finally relented and pulled the bag down to the floor under the table.
Seeing that, Seowoon sighed in relief and smiled.
"Alright then, let's head out. We've got lots of places to go today."
"Where to now?"
Having lived a life of frugality, eating out together had always been the family's rare treat.
But when it sounded like more than just dining out was in store, his mother couldn't help the subtle glint of excitement in her eyes.
"Oh, there's plenty to do. First off… let's go look at a car for Dad."
"A car?"
His father had used public transportation his entire life.
He'd always believed waking up an hour earlier than others was a small price to pay to get by without owning a car. For Seowoon, being able to buy his father a car had long been a dream.
"Yes. It's time you had a car—or even a couple. We'll get you a car, buy a house, and head to the department store too."
Just hearing Seowoon speak made his mother light up like a girl with a crush.
"But… if we get a car, our health insurance premiums will go way up…"
That had always been the reason they never owned one.
The cost of the car itself, insurance, fuel, and the spike in national health insurance premiums.
"Dad, you won't have to pay health insurance anymore. And you won't have any hospital bills either. If you ever go to the hospital, just show them your ID. The Swedish government will cover all medical expenses."
"Really? Oh my, then we can cancel all our other insurance policies too."
His mother looked truly delighted at the idea of freeing herself from the burden of all those monthly premiums.
Seeing her reaction, Seowoon felt a weight settle in his chest.
He had earned a lot of money some time ago, but he couldn't shake the guilt of having neglected his parents.
What the hell have I been doing this whole time?
Seeing that his mother had been stressed over a few insurance payments made him feel awful.
"Let's go, then!"
"Come on, Mom."
"You too, Dad."
The two women tugged at his parents' arms, and finally, their hesitant bodies rose from their seats.
They took a taxi to a foreign car dealership.
When Seowoon asked casually during the ride, his father said he'd prefer an SUV over a sedan. So they headed to the nearest Land Rover dealership.
As they stepped inside after getting out of the taxi, the staff glanced at one another, then sent the youngest-looking employee to greet them.
"Welcome."
"Hi. We're here to look at some cars."
"Of course. Please browse freely. If you'd like to sit in any of the vehicles, just let us know."
With that, the staffer quickly disappeared.
Seowoon's expression darkened.
He wouldn't have cared if that kind of treatment happened when he was alone—but getting dismissed like that in front of his parents soured his mood.
He could tell the staff had judged them solely by their appearance and dismissed them as unworthy of attention.
Just then, Juriel's Bentley pulled up in front of the showroom, right behind their taxi. All eyes turned toward it.
When two stunningly beautiful women—one with Eastern elegance and the other with Western allure—stepped out of the luxury car and walked in, every staff member hurried to open the doors and greet them with big smiles.
But the two women ignored them completely and made a beeline for Seowoon and his parents.
"Father!"
"Mother!"
They each linked arms affectionately with his parents, and the young employee who had first approached them rushed over, startled.
"O-oh, you're all together?"
Seowoon turned a cold gaze on him and spoke.
"No need to worry—we won't be touching any of the cars, so you don't have to come back."
His tone, rare and icy for someone on Earth, made the two women immediately realize something had happened before they arrived.
Sensing the situation, Juriel spoke up.
"Get us a new salesperson. Now."
Having spent two weeks learning Earth's customs alongside Karina, she had learned well how to lodge complaints with people who made her uncomfortable.
Her cold glare made the young employee's face go pale.
Soon after, an older employee hurried over and quietly ushered the younger one out of sight.
"Our staff member just started recently, so I think they may have inconvenienced you."
Seowoon didn't spare the new employee a glance, too busy examining the car.
"Dad, what do you think of this one?"
"It looks solid, but… wouldn't a Hyundai be a safer bet?"
"This one's sturdier than most domestic cars."
"Ah, this model is…"
"It's fine. We'll take a look ourselves."
"Y-yes, of course…"
Faced with Seowoon's cold demeanor, the employee quickly stepped back and shut his mouth.
"There's been some talk lately about issues with this model, but it's nothing serious. If it gives you trouble, you can always switch it out. Just give it a try first," said Lilingwei, quickly opening the car door.
"Father, why don't you take a seat?"
Unable to refuse, Seowoon's father sat down in the driver's seat—and smiled involuntarily at the luxurious upholstery and finishing.
"Not bad, huh?"
"It's nice. Definitely looks different—guess it's true what they say about foreign cars."
"Let's go ahead and make the deal. How long would delivery take?"
Finally receiving Seowoon's attention, the employee hurried forward.
"For that model, the delivery time depends on the color and options…"
"Dad, what color do you like?"
"This white one looks clean and classy."
Seowoon glanced at his father, who clearly liked the car, and nodded.
"White. Full options."
At Seowoon's words, the employee's face brightened.
"We can deliver that one quickly. We've got several full-option models from the latest shipment that haven't been claimed yet."
"Then let's sign the contract right away."
The employee was surprised once when Seowoon's father pulled out an ID booklet that resembled a passport. Then he was shocked a second time when Seowoon paid the full price with a single credit card swipe.
And later, after they had left, when he found out they were exempt from registration and acquisition taxes—only to be further stunned when men in sharp Swedish suits arrived to inspect and prepare the car—he realized he couldn't be more surprised.
"I guess you really can't judge people by appearances."
"Right…"
After finalizing the car purchase, they headed to a department store.
There, the staff showed no signs of treating them poorly.
If anything, as Seowoon's parents changed outfits and appearances, the employees only grew more attentive.
Seowoon, having bought his mother her first luxury handbag and placed a wristwatch on his father's arm that could rival the deposit for a rental home, felt prouder and happier than he ever had before.
At first, his parents adamantly refused everything after seeing the price tags. But with Seowoon and the two women's persistence, they ended up leaving with both hands full of shopping bags.
"I asked some people I know in Sweden to help with housing. We should find a place soon."
"Alright. But I'd really rather not move far. I hope we can keep living in Incheon."
"Of course. Don't worry—I already told them."
After a long day of shopping, Seowoon saw his parents off. Juriel and Lilingwei came up close on either side of him.
"Your parents seem so kind and warmhearted."
"They really do. You can tell how thrifty they've been—and how much they love you."
"They worked themselves to the bone raising me, but they never once scolded me for bad grades."
On the way back to Wonju, Seowoon suddenly felt something familiar—and his eyes snapped open.
Juriel and Lilingwei reacted the same way.
"Seowoon!"
"What is this, all of a sudden…"
Heat surged through his body, and then his vision began to shift.
***
– Thank you for participating in Cloyd Survival.
– 150 participants confirmed. Cloyd Survival is now beginning.
– Language synchronization… 38%… 80%… 100% complete.
– The game is starting. Difficulty: Maximum. Reach the Top 100. No player-on-player damage allowed in the current waiting room.
– Assigned region: Incheon Metropolitan City. Rewards will be distributed from Top 15 and up.
– This game will run for 200 days. Each day, your playable map will be limited.
Please be careful not to take damage outside the field zone, as the force field restricting the map will grow stronger over time.
This is a mandatory ranked game.
In this round, players of the same rank will compete in a survival match.
The game will continue until only one person remains. Once the game ends or you are eliminated, you will return to your original world.
Anyone who does not place in the Top 100 will no longer be able to access Cloyd Survival.
The total number of participants is currently 150.
We wish you the best of luck.
***
"What the—!"
Seowoon spun around in surprise—and saw players all around, each with a crown hovering over their heads.
They weren't panicked. Instead, their eyes were cold, calmly observing their surroundings and sizing up the other competitors.
A cold sweat ran down Seowoon's back as he realized what kind of people they were.
Veterans.
'A third of the current rankers are going to be eliminated in this one game?'
[T/L: Read extra chapters on my ko-fi page "Pokemon1920" : https://ko-fi.com/pokemon1920 ]