I was a perverted bastard.
100 billion won. To be precise, 105 billion won.
I pondered how to use this money.
Deep down, I wanted to buy a supercar right away and a luxury apartment along the Han River boulevard.
But I decided to put those desires on hold for the time being.
More than that, I had a strong urge to stay here longer.
Why could I stay here? To save up for a proper studio apartment deposit.
If word got out that I had 100 billion won, I'd naturally have to leave this house too.
"It's better to be here with Aunt than alone in Seoul. I want to get closer to Seol-hyun noona and Si-hyun too."
Aunt alone was a beauty you rarely saw anywhere.
And she had a kind heart to match. For me, someone from Gwangju with no connections in Seoul, it was only natural that I wanted to stay here.
The same went for noona and Si-hyun.
They had looks that made it hard to even approach them outside, so I wanted to get closer.
Until now, I'd been too focused on part-time jobs to bond with them...
But now that I was rich enough not to worry about money, I planned to take my time approaching the family.
100 billion won. Even just 3% interest per year came out to 3 billion.
Even after taxes, it was close to 1.5 billion rolling in.
I could spend 100 million a month without touching the principal at all.
Even in Seoul, that was plenty to call me rich.
"Let me check..."
I looked into Bitcoin a bit more.
No need for complicated searches.
The internet was already flooded with Bitcoin talk.
"Too bad."
Even today, it had risen another 1%.
If I'd waited just one more day, I'd have made another 10 billion won.
I pushed aside the regret.
While studying investing, I'd learned this saying.
When everyone's cheering in ecstasy, that's the most dangerous time.
Looking at the charts, it somehow felt risky.
"50 billion is pocket change anyway..."
I didn't want to ignore this gut feeling.
Even 100 billion alone was more than enough to call me rich.
I deposited 50 billion into a domestic exchange and bought Ripple.
Then I sent it straight to the overseas exchange I'd recently set up.
Betting on a drop was only possible on overseas exchanges.
"...It's money I can afford to lose."
I got greedy.
20x leverage. I bet 50 billion on a short.
It was equivalent to investing 1 trillion won.
If it rose another 5%, I'd get liquidated.
But the moment it dropped big, I could make tens of billions.
Maybe even hundreds of billions.
It was worth a shot.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After finishing the investment, I headed to the living room.
"Where is everyone?"
Today was Aunt's day off.
She usually cleaned the living room on days like this.
Thinking she might have gone out, I started getting ready for my part-time job when I heard voices from Aunt's room.
Knowing I was rich gave me a boldness I'd never had before.
Curious about the call, I approached her door.
I could hear the conversation.
-I'm not asking for much. Please just help until Si-hyun graduates college. It's hard for me to cover tuition with what I earn.
Aunt had been sighing more lately.
This call must be related.
-I looked it up, and even after a kid turns adult, if they're in college, you're obligated to pay child support. Please... I'm begging you. She's your daughter too.
Si-hyun had just turned adult and entered college, so expenses would only go up.
And since she was an adult now, the child support must have been cut off.
It was a perfect storm.
'Not now.'
I wanted to help right away, but that would definitely make Aunt suspicious.
Even if I offered bluntly, she'd probably refuse out of burden.
I'd have to help slowly, bit by bit.
-Ha... I'm not the one in court. You know I don't know anyone. I can't even afford a lawyer, so what...
Ugh.
My heart ached.
And at the same time, I realized something new about myself.
'Perverted bastard.'
I didn't want to admit it, but I guess I really was a perverted bastard.
Seeing Aunt struggle, instead of pure pity, the thought of her relying on me later when I helped brought a strange ecstasy.
I didn't deny it.
This feeling wasn't hurting anyone.
Aunt gets help from me, and I feel this thrill.
It's good for both of us, right?
Vowing to help later, I headed to the store since it was about time.
"You're here? You look in a good mood?"
"Yeah?"
The part-time job I'd hated so much before now felt purely enjoyable.
The only thing that changed was one.
My balance.
That alone made the same work feel endlessly fun.
It was like enjoying a game.
"Heard there's a company dinner tonight. You skipping, right?"
"Company dinner?"
"It's just an excuse to get drinks with Ji-hyun."
"Hmm... I'll join, I guess."
"Huh? For real? You've never come to one before."
"Figured I'd enjoy life a bit now."
"Good for you, man. You're young, but living like an old man working too hard was tough to watch."
"Huh?"
"Ahem. Makes me feel immature. Kinda embarrassing comparing."
Who knows.
The old me worked hard because I had to, not because I was mature.
I just wanted to get rich to do whatever I wanted.
Hyung didn't work hard because he didn't need to.
Not immaturity.
No need to explain.
"Help me out, hyung. I don't know how to have fun."
"That's my expertise. What first? Gambling? Nightlife? Want a pretty camgirl rec? Name it."
"...You gamble, hyung?"
"I'm a chicken, so I do toto. Coin's basically gambling, so I do it legally."
"Coin's gambling?"
"No one knows why it goes up or down. Investment for some, gambling for me."
"Yeah? Bitcoin's been skyrocketing lately. What do you think it'll do?"
"Oh, interested? Probably go up more. Can't imagine it dropping from here."
Different from my view.
He was like a human contrarian indicator, boosting my confidence in the bet.
"I think it'll drop."
"...Don't jinx it. Ahem. Gotta take profits first anyway."
He was watching profits too.
I'd made 100 billion.
A smile crept onto my face.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
On the way to the dinner.
"What's this? You actually joining the dinner?"
"Y-yeah? W-well..."
"What? We said casual talk."
"I mean..."
Ji-hyun suddenly talked to me, and I stammered, unable to deliver the answer in my head.
To be exact, my mind went blank.
Too excited from being rich, I'd forgotten.
'Ah, shit...'
After all-boys middle school, high school, and military, I wasn't good at talking to girls.
Especially pretty ones—it was worse.
Amused by it, Ji-hyun smiled and walked away.
Argh... driving me crazy.
Jae-hoon hyung started teasing me.
"Dude, what was that? Th-th-th-that... Pfft. Looks like you glitched."
"...Don't tease."
"It's hilarious. Why so nervous? Ji-hyun won't even glance at us. Don't expect that, and you won't shake."
"...Could happen."
"Yeah right. Far as I know, you need looks, skills, or massive confidence. From what you said, you're done."
"..."
Couldn't argue.
But hyung didn't know I'd gained skills now.
Hit with an unexpected hurdle, I focused on the dinner.
Then.
"Thinking of opening branch two."
"For real? Boss, you said you'd give it to me, right?"
"...Help more at the main store first. I'm thinking Ji-hyun for it."
"What? Ji-hyun's not even a year in? Half a year at best..."
"Dude, quit whining. Not happy? Open your own."
"..."
Boss mentioned branch two, and hyung—who'd been eyeing manager—looked depressed at the unexpected answer.
This guy's a real woman-chaser, like I thought.
Ditching me to woo Ji-hyun, what a joke.
But I got it on one level.
If I could talk smooth, I'd offer her the spot too.
"Sorry, I want to focus on college."
"Hmm... Think it over. Not kidding. Anyway, focus on drinks tonight. Let's get wasted!"
Plan failed, so pivot to getting her drunk, huh.
"I gotta go. Friend's picking me up..."
"Already? Have your friend join and hang..."
"Driving."
"..."
Ji-hyun left after her usual goodbye.
"...Let's drink moderately and go."
The "drink till we drop" lasted another 30 minutes before wrapping up.
Whatever, my head was filled with that earlier humiliation.
What now... This'll make my goal harder.
"Hyung, how do you talk to girls casually?"
"Thought you were asexual, but nah. Want to chat easy with girls?"
"Would be nice."
"Mood's right. Follow me. Kinda regret it too, and I made decent cash yesterday. Time to show you man's world."
"Toto?"
"Legal toto, punk."
Answering my question, hyung gave confident advice like it was his field.
"To talk well to girls, gotta practice."
Where hyung took me.
"...Here?"
"Expensive place, man. Only 'cause it's you."
Noraebang nearby.
"You said you'd succeed. Don't wanna hand all that cash to girls? Practice now."
"..."
"What face? Expected more? No round two here, don't overhype. But super pretty girls drinking with you. Sound good? My treat—rare."
"...Let's go, hyung."
"Kuh... Guiding little bro right feels good. Just two hours. More's too much for me."
I really am a pervert.
My heart pounded.