Preparation

How long had it been since Shin Seoyeon started extorting money from me?

"She really won't cough it up. Hey, Black Dick. Did you lose your touch?"

Shin Seoyeon approached and slapped my cheeks over and over. As I took the hits, I was reminded of the old days.

-Lend me some money.

I don't know when it all started, but I remember the serious extortion beginning after I entered university.

-Money...? You borrowed some last time too. I haven't gotten that back yet.

-Ah, fuck. Why are you being so nitpicky between friends? It's not like we're complete strangers—we went to the same elementary, middle, and high schools. Can't I pay you back a little late? It's not like I'm saying I won't pay you back.

-Still...

-Wow, I'm disappointed in you. Are you really going to be this petty?

-…….

At first, I still trusted her because she was my friend.

We'd been pretty close in elementary school.

I suppose I was deluding myself by recalling how she'd been and thinking some of the kindness she'd shown as a child still remained.

That once she grew up and came to her senses, she'd return to the innocent girl she'd once been.

'Yeah, what a spectacular delusion that was.'

There was no such thing, and over the next ten years, I saw her at her absolute worst.

That was the conclusion I'd reached.

Once someone goes bad, they don't change.

-Hey, you're really not going to lend money to a friend? I'm seriously in a hurry. You're the only person who can help me.

-Phew. This is the last time.

None of the money she borrowed ever came back, and once what she owed me passed four million won, she openly extorted money from me.

Thud.

"Fuck, do you think I'm not worth listening to?!"

She kicked me in the shin, assaulted me, and extorted money as if it were only natural.

"……."

Honestly, it might be hard to understand how someone a head shorter than me could run this wild.

One punch straight to her face would end it, given the difference in our builds.

But ours is a nation governed by law.

Such undignified acts come with severe punishment.

Especially when the victim is a woman, the punishment can jump dramatically.

And there was another reason she was so confident.

"There you are, Seoyeon. What are you doing?"

"Oh, oppa, you're here?"

Shin Seoyeon, who had been losing her temper in front of me and plotting to squeeze money out of me somehow, suddenly turned toward the male voice and smiled brightly as if she'd never done any of that.

Step. Step.

Three men walked over; with dyed hair, tattoos, and cigarettes dangling from their mouths, they were textbook delinquent college students.

'Oh, right. These punks were here too.'

The university I attended was a four-year school in the Seoul metropolitan area, the sort where, thanks to the population cliff and low birthrate combo, even an idiot could get in with enough backdoor money.

In other words, there was nothing strange about a few thugs who didn't fit the school's atmosphere swaggering around campus.

The moment they saw me, those guys, who practically broadcasted that they'd gone around spitting on the ground back in their school days, let out mocking snorts.

"Were you playing with your high school friend again?"

"Yeah. I had some time to kill. But what brings you here at this hour, oppa?"

"I came because I wanted to see my Seoyeon, of course. But today seems different from usual. I noticed something looked wrong on my way over. Want me to help?"

Seoyeon turned to me and flashed a smile. The meaning in her expression was obvious.

「Hand over the money while you still can?」

I hesitated for a moment.

Whether or not to pound these bastards.

「What are you doing?」

When I looked at the three seniors, they clenched and unclenched their fists, demanding to know what I was waiting for instead of handing over the money.

'Sigh.'

Honestly, maybe because I'd just spent the previous few minutes fighting a dragon the size of Yongsan to the death, those glaring eyes looked utterly laughable.

I could probably half-kill them in five minutes, but I didn't have time for this.

'If I get dragged to the police station for getting caught up in a pointless violent incident, it'll be a waste of time. Don't engage.'

When I put my hand into my pocket, Seoyeon grinned and looked satisfied.

"You should've handed it over sooner. Huh? Then I wouldn't have had to get all embarrassed, either."

"……."

"What? Are you pissed? Does it make you feel bad, like you're an ATM? Then develop enough ability that people can't ignore you."

At this point, Shin Seoyeon was nothing more and nothing less than a thug.

But she would change when the world turned upside down.

She would gain an absurd ability and rise to become an S-tier mage—someone everyone looked up to, someone every man wanted at least once, even in his dreams.

But my position wouldn't change.

Not once had I ever surpassed her.

"Got it? If you don't want to be ignored, succeed and make something of yourself. Then I'll treat you like a person too. Heh-heh."

But this life would be a little different.

"Why is it taking you so long to get the money out? Hurry up and hand it over!"

"What are you talking about?"

"Huh?"

I abruptly turned around and started walking.

"Huh, wha?"

I hadn't put my hand in my pocket to take out money. There was something I wanted to check.

Back then, I often walked around with my hands in the pockets of my windbreaker or jumper.

I'd do it for no reason even when it wasn't cold.

Was it for style? No way. Looking back now, I could only laugh at how ridiculous it was.

'It feels familiar, but uncomfortable. It's definitely better to keep my hands out where I can move them at any time. Looks like I really did regress while retaining my memories.'

I simply wanted to make sure.

I just wanted to know whether I'd truly regressed and how different I was from my past self—to understand that sense of dissonance.

Money? Why the hell would I give her that?

"Hey, Black Dick! You want to die?! Get your ass over here! You really want to die?!"

Lacking the nerve to follow me out to where there were lots of people and extort me, the bastards got a quiet middle finger from me.

Yeah, fuck off.

***

Well, then, what should I do now?

"Come to think of it, I'll need money to prepare for the tutorial."

Thanks to Shin Seoyeon going on and on about money, I immediately remembered what I needed to do.

The problem was how to get the money.

I checked my bank balance with my smartphone.

[Balance: 124,238 won]

"Ah, I was totally broke at this point in time."

This was nowhere near enough.

"I wonder if there's any money lying around the house?"

Racking my memory, I returned home and immediately searched every nook and cranny. Yeah, nothing turned up.

'Well, I suppose that was only natural.'

The house was hollow. It had furniture and necessities, but in a home with not a single person in it, only loneliness lingered.

My parents had both died long ago.

My mother died giving birth to me; my father raised me alone, then struggled with cancer for years before...

Since money had been tight, I'd already searched the house thoroughly and gathered and spent every last bit of cash.

Just as you can't find treasure in a treasure chest you've already emptied, this bout of looting ended the same way.

"There's no money."

Still, there was something worth money.

When I looked up, I saw the only inheritance my father had left me.

An apartment. Though the debt incurred when buying it hadn't been fully repaid and it was still being held as collateral, this ought to do.

"It was always something I had a love-hate relationship with, but I suppose this works out."

The world was going to end anyway, and I'd have to leave this place. So I'd use this apartment to get some money and spend it sensibly.

'Selling it won't work. There are only three days left, so the world will end before I can receive the payment.'

Then there was only one way.

"Let's max out the loans."

***

I already had a loan; would I be able to get another?

"Oh?"

I could. With real-estate regulations loosened, the bank said its collateral limits had more room and lent me close to 200 million won.

'Can I borrow even more?'

In truth, 200 million won was enough to somehow complete my preparations.

But apparently, the world would end the day after tomorrow.

Both money and debt would disappear.

'Wow, then wouldn't it be okay to make things a little bigger?'

Maybe because I'd spent ten years risking my life through countless trials, I felt more anticipation than fear about going out to cause trouble.

I even felt exhilarated at the thought of doing something I'd never been able to do in my entire life.

"Welcome. What brings our young customer here today?"

[This Life Is Doomed Capital]

I'd gone to a loan shark.

"I've come to borrow money. I'll put up my apartment as collateral."

Would it work or not?

"Deal."

The other party readily agreed, appraised the apartment, and offered me a loan of 250 million won.

'Hmm. So that means I'll have 450 million won in hand.'

Enough money to do just about anything.

I looked over the contract.

Loan amount: 250 million won

Interest: 14% annually

"……."

"Haha, the interest rate is a bit steep, but..."

The interest rate was fucking loan-shark-level, but so what? The Earth would disappear tomorrow.

Of course, the loan company didn't know that, so they enthusiastically showered me with honeyed words, looking like they'd landed the perfect sucker.

"It has to be this high for us to lend to you. Ask somewhere else. I guarantee the interest will be at least 4% higher than this."

"……."

"Well, if you don't want it, never mind. We already set it lower after taking everything into consideration."

"I'll do it."

The instant I said that, the lender's face broke into a huge grin.

'Jeez. At least try to control your expression.'

Being treated so openly like a sucker made it hard to just sit still. Since I was doing this anyway, should I act even more like one?

"Could I borrow more if you raise the interest rate?"

"Hmm. That'd be a little difficu—"

"Please. I have my reasons. I'll pay it back within a month or two."

"...Phew. It normally isn't allowed, but you look like you're in a desperate situation, so I suppose it can't be helped."

Well, would you look at that—they lent me even more.

They raised the interest to 18% and looked like they were about to die of happiness.

'What a smile. Like they're going to pile on debt and then sell me for parts.'

Still, I wouldn't have to deal with these people for more than a few hours.

"Thank you."

"Oh, no, we're the ones who should be thanking you, customer."

It wasn't just my imagination that I was coming off like a sucker.

"Ah! It probably won't happen, but don't even think about running off with the money. You understand what I mean, right?"

I nodded.

Thus, after borrowing another 100 million won, I had a whopping 550 million won sitting in my bank account.

"Wow, how am I supposed to spend all this money in one day?"

People who are used to spending money know how to spend it; a commoner like me had no idea what to do with it no matter how much I was told to spend.

So for the time being, I went around Seoul buying the best versions of everything I needed.

'If I don't know how to spend money, I'll start by taking my equipment seriously!'

Electronic devices weren't allowed when we were taken away for the selection process, but we could bring whatever we were wearing and carrying.

Knowing the future, I planned to exploit that loophole.

"Phew, am I done shopping with this?"

After buying everything, I had 350 million won left in my account.

I still have a lot left. What should I do now?

"Should I go eat something tasty?"

The world was going to disappear anyway, so I might as well enjoy myself as much as possible.

So I looked around for somewhere to go and headed straight to a five-star hotel buffet.

"Welcome!"

I wanted to enjoy fine dining if possible, but apparently those places required reservations months in advance.

Even this place was nearly fully booked despite being just a buffet, but since it was a weekday with few people, I got lucky and was able to eat there.

'Whew, starting tomorrow I'll be busy again with trials and whatnot, so how about I eat and enjoy myself properly today?'

It was while I was eating with that thought in mind.

"Huh?"

"Black Dick?"

I came face-to-face with Shin Seoyeon.

Ah, why did I have to run into her here again?

"Who is this? A friend of yours?"

"Oh, yes. He's a friend from school."

Shin Seoyeon answered the middle-aged man in his forties standing beside her with a smile.

For the record, if my memory was right, he definitely wasn't her father.

'Shin Seoyeon was obsessed with appearances and spent extravagantly.'

That's why she was a woman who would do anything for money.

She'd squeeze money out of a classmate through violence, date an older man behind her boyfriend's back, and even fawn over him.

'And it's amazing that she was still a virgin at this point.'

Just how many men had she leeched off? I could only marvel.

"Hello."

"Yes, nice to meet you."

I greeted the sucker of the day who had been caught by Shin Seoyeon.

Maybe he liked my politeness, or maybe this was his first time meeting Shin Seoyeon; either way, the man gave me a friendly smile.

Ah, seeing that warm smile made me feel even sorrier for him.

"Wait, I have something to discuss with my friend. Excuse me."

"Sure, sure. Take your time."

Then Shin Seoyeon abruptly grabbed my arm and dragged me to a corner.

In places crowded with people, she pretended to be demure and giggled sweetly, but the fewer witnesses there were, the more she revealed her sinister, wicked true face.

"Black Dick. What are you doing here?"

Finally, when we reached a secluded corner of the passage leading to the restroom, Shin Seoyeon stopped me and revealed a vicious grin like a lioness eyeing prey in front of her.

"Fuck, this is pissing me off. You don't have money to give me, but you have money to come to a place like this? Huh?"

Tap, tap. Her skill at kicking my shins with her dress shoes was a work of art, every time.

I looked her straight in the eye and asked,

"Aren't you tired of going on and on about money?"

"Ha, are you lecturing me now? Wow, our Minjun's grown up a lot. I must've gone too easy on you lately. Today, I'll pin you down and fucking reset your brain..."

"If you want money that badly, I can give you a whole lot at once."

Seoyeon, who had been putting on a threatening air, furrowed her brow sharply.

"What?"

"I can give you a lot of money if you want. How much do you want? Should I give you five thousand?"

"Do you think I'm an elementary school kid? These days even New Year's cash gifts start at fifty thousand won, you know? Quit running your mouth and—"

"Not five thousand won. I'll give you fifty million won."

"Bullshit."

Then she grabbed me by the collar and glared, so I pulled out my smartphone and showed her my account balance.

[Balance: 350,529,371 won]

"Does it still sound like I'm just running my mouth?"

"Uh...?"

Shin Seoyeon's world came to a halt. Her stiff fingers caressed my smartphone.

Tap. Tap.

She tapped it repeatedly, like she was taking snapshots.

How many times did she scroll down and back up, checking the balance?

"Huh, wha? Why do you have so much money...?"

Looks like our Seoyeon was pretty shocked.

Well, for a college student from a poor family, fifty million won was a lot of money.

"So, do you want the fifty million won or not?"

Shin Seoyeon, who had been completely captivated by the smartphone screen, stared blankly at me and blinked her pretty eyes.