{ white number 2 }
Trying to show a calm expression on the outside, Yuhan-wol quickly shook his head.
The interviewer’s words quickly replayed in my mind.
‘Three thousand to seven thousand. A total of 1 billion… .’
With an advance payment of 30 million won, it was enough to repay the remaining student loan in a lump sum.
I still have no income, and instead of repaying the principal, I am in a situation where I am working on the house to pay interest… .
In addition, if you survive only 6 months, you will receive an additional 70 million won.
With that money, even if I didn’t get a job anywhere, it was enough money to start a small shop.
1 billion won.
It was never little money.
It was even more so for Baeksoo on a day like Yuhanwol.
After hearing the conditions, the constraints I had heard before were roughly understood.
No leaving the facility, no outside contact.
It felt like going to some kind of army one more time, but there was a big difference from that.
In just 6 months, you will receive 100 million won.
With this money, there will be many people who will go even if they are told to re-enlist for six months.
It’s been 6 months just playing games, isn’t it?
* * *
Yuhan-wol, who was recalling the interview, suddenly raised his head.
On the way home, advertisements on the inside of the subway.
Yuhanwol stared at them for a moment.
[Recruitment of new drug clinical trial subjects!]
[Announcement of Recruitment for Clinical Trial Applicants for Treatment]
[We are recruiting clinical trial participants.]
‘… ‘
Yuhan-wol seemed to be able to understand the reason for the unprecedented reward for participating in the test.
The latest trend in games is by far and away the reality.
In other words, how realistic it was greatly influenced the success or failure of the box office.
And in line with it, how harmful reality games are to the body has been emerging as a social issue.
‘Perhaps this test is an experiment to finally check it, right?’
It felt like a lab rat.
There will be side effects.
That would be the pay for that.
But even if he knew the price he had to pay, it was an offer he couldn’t refuse.
1 billion in 6 months.
Although his family doesn’t know, it was Yuhan-wol who was actually interested in clinical trials for new drugs.
Although I had never participated in it yet, I knew about the rough conditions as I had known a lot.
The reality is that even if you apply for a clinical trial by a pharmaceutical company, you are lucky if you only get hundreds of thousands of won.
Yuhan Wol closed his eyes as if trying to take his eyes off the advertisements.
But the thoughts in my head kept running.
Wouldn’t it be better to get wet after playing some reality game than the side effects of real drugs?
Besides, isn’t it a body that has already been trained as much as it will be trained in the game?
Hundreds of thousands of won to 100 million won.
In any case, it was an opportunity not to be missed.
‘okay. I’ve made the right decision.’
No matter how many times he looked back, his determination did not waver.
On the contrary, his convictions grew stronger.
‘Providing employment opportunities.’
After listening to the interviewer’s explanation.
Yuhan Wol inflated her heart as she recalled the third condition.
It was an opportunity I had longed for.
Provide opportunities for entry into NMA to top participants with excellent test scores.
Top performers with good grades.
I never had good grades when I was in school, but now it’s a different story.
That grade is nothing other than a skill in the game.
In ＜Dungeon Knights＞, Yuhan Wol was the top ranked player.
If you work hard, it might not be a vain dream to get a job at the NMA.
‘BH group.’
Yuhan-wol, shaking his head, remembered the articles he had read sometime.
A legendary success story about getting a job at a game company after being good at games.
But now, that opportunity had finally arrived before my eyes.
judgment has been made
The restriction of not being able to contact outside for six months was no longer a concern.
After all, there was nowhere to contact him, and he was in the position of an unemployed person with nowhere to contact.
‘It must last six months.’
Yuhan Wol clenched his fists.
At this moment, his determination was firmly established.
As in my life, I wasn’t driven by inertia just because other people had to do it.
This was the path I chose for myself.
Yuhanwol looked back at the memories of the past.
The interviewers were seated on the other side.
Wearing suits and asking questions, they were in a position that Yuhan Wol envyed.
Yuhan Wol boldly signed the contract on the spot.
Then, smiling that he made a good decision, he proudly held the hands of the interviewers who were asking for a handshake, and made his determination.
It was difficult to bear the life of watching the eyes of the family at home.
Like a loser, the life of escaping endlessly only through games.
He couldn’t have been happier to live like this forever, as a son he wasn’t proud of.
The cramped reality of walking endlessly through a tunnel with no way out is now tiring.
Maybe this was my last chance.
As he walked in thoughts like that, he squinted his eyes.
As I walked out of the subway station, the sun suddenly shone brightly.
It’s only been a few days.
It was a season that felt new for some reason.
‘spring.’
Yuhan-wol sincerely wished.
May such a bright dawn shine in my life as well.
May the spring day come.
* * *
“I thought I was wasting my time just playing games, but it doesn’t seem like it was just a waste of time.”
It had been a long time since the family had dinner together.
Foods that are plentiful and full of food.
It was difficult to find an empty space on the table.
“Yes, Father.”
Yuhanwol answered in a calm voice.
Normally, it was a line that would have made you cry inside.
But the reason I was able to pass it on without anger was probably because of the joy I could feel in my father’s voice.
“therefore… What do you think the result will be?”
“… I decided to participate.”
“yes? Are the results already out?”
My father asked, as if what the heck did that mean.
Of course, if it was a normal job, it would take a long time for the results to come out after the interview.
“Oh, it’s because I’m participating in a beta test for a new game. Think of it like an internship. If you get good grades there, you will be hired as a full-time employee.”
At that time, the mother hurriedly told the father.
“you! How great our Hanwol is, we will be contacted from there first, and will be confirmed as an intern at once. It is said that Hanwol’s game results are very good.”
Was it because her mother noticed, or did she not want to ruin the good mood that had been around for a long time?
Dad didn’t ask any more questions.
Anyway, he was a son who failed to find a job and was just playing at home.
Isn’t it good news to be stuck somewhere?
Or, it may be that he didn’t want to break the spirit of his son, who came with a meaningful result for the first time regardless of the content.
“okay. Anyway, good job. Good work.”
It’s been a while since I heard a compliment from my father.
Yuhanwol replied in a low voice.
“yes.”
After a moment’s silence, the father spoke again.
“okay. So what will happen next?”
“Yes. Departure is in two days. The internship location is in the United States.”
I ask if my father heard it right.
“USA?”
“yes. The game company is an American company.”
“okay?”
At that time, the younger brother, who was quietly eating next to me, opens his mouth.
“My brother’s game… It’s made by an American company. It’s a world-famous game company.”
“I see.”
When the father nodded his head as if he believed his brother’s words and looked back, Yuhan-wol hurriedly opened his mouth.
“Ah, the company I applied for this time is not the maker of the game I am playing now.”
“… then?”
Yuhan-wol told his parents about what the company who conducted the interview had told him.
It was just as the scenario was guided by them.
This was because, under the terms of the contract, there was absolutely no mention of BH or NMA.
Even if it’s family.
“It’s a different account. How did you get my information? The new game they make is similar to the one I’m playing right now… So I guess the offer came.”
“okay. So, is that company also an American company?”
“yes. The company that I interviewed for is an agency in Korea.”
“You look like an agent. Then the internship is paid by the American company?”
“yes.”
“How far are you going?”
“If you don’t get good grades, they say it will be over soon. Hopefully it will take about 6 months. Since it is a top-secret project, it is said that phones are not allowed and external communication is restricted… I think I can fill it up in about six months.”
“Hmm?”
Yuhan-wol hastily tells his parents, who are a little puzzled.
“If you participate for 6 months and get good grades, they say that they will give you special privileges to become a full-time employee. It’s similar to the game I used to play, so I think I can do well.”
“Still, in another country for six months… Are you forcing me not to contact you once?”
Yuhanwol smiled and said to his parents, who had a worried expression on their face.
“I went to the military for two years. And what’s so hard about going to a game?”
* * *
Yuhan Wol looked around his room once.
‘I can’t come back for a while.’
It was finally the day to leave.
The given schedule was tight, but there wasn’t much to organize or prepare.
The only things to bring were clothes and a few daily necessities in a small suitcase.
Since all items are provided locally, the company also instructed us to minimize what we bring.
Rather, most of the external items are restricted from being brought in.
It looked like the security was really tight.
Thanks to you, I was sweating hard to dry my mother who was trying to take care of me.
‘If I made a mistake, I almost brought kimchi.’
Yuhan-wol, who was grinning at the memory that came to him for a moment, looked at his reflection in the mirror.
She was wearing a suit and her hair was neatly touched.
He looked like a new employee from somewhere.
New recruits.
It was a word I came up with myself, but it sounded good.
Slowly, his heart pounded.
‘When you come back… ‘
I hope it will be so then.
Yuhan-wol buried that determination and hope in the place.
* * *
As I leave the room, I hear a voice as if waiting.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
The three of them sat face to face in the sunny living room.
Yuhanwol looked around and asked.
Because there was no one there to be.
“What is the month of January?”
“I went to school. This guy, I probably won’t be able to see you for a while… … . It must have been some important class.”
At the words of the mother defending her younger sister, Yuhan-wol waved her hand as if it was okay.
“no. Well, you’ll be back soon. Oh, and… ”
He pulled out his phone in front of his parents watching.
And as soon as he manipulated something, his father’s phone rang.
At the glance of the son, the father’s mouth slowly opened as he took out his phone and checked it.
“You’re this guy… ”
“This, Jewol, add some to the tuition.”
It was Yuhan-wol, who sent 30 million won in advance to her parents’ account.
“Still, this is what you earned… .”
“Hey, I haven’t been using it anywhere for six months. and… It was the first money I earned, and I wanted to spend it meaningfully.”
His words seemed to have suddenly matured somewhat.
After a moment’s silence, the father opened his mouth.
“okay. Thank you.”
His father’s voice seemed to have subsided a little.
Yuhan-wol, who smiled softly once, jumped up from his seat.
“Then I will go.”
I didn’t have anything else to say, but if I sat down for nothing, the atmosphere would only get weirder.
Dad said as he got up after his body.
“Take care of yourself. If anything happens, call me right away.”
“under… Hanwol-ah!”
Yuhan-wol smiled once with a bright face as she watched her mother follow her with a worried expression on whether she was worried about her grown-up son so much.
Then he opened the door and went out.
“Don’t worry too much if you don’t have contact. I’ll be in touch with you if the situation arises!”
In case his parents would come out with him, he quickly grabbed the suitcase and dragged him and hurriedly closed the front door.
bang
‘… It’s closed again.’
But this time it was what I wanted.
So Yuhan-wol left the house.
Reminding me that I will never live my life the way I used to.