If I Don’t Earn 1 Trillion Won, My Regression Ends - Chapter 34

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 34

 

It was a reunion after three years.

 

When his annoying light laughter and pretense of being cheerful finally disappeared, I felt satisfied for the first time.

 

My heart was uncomfortable, so why should Rampa Lim be at ease?

 

It was unfair.

 

I could just ignore the truth that I was several years older than that kid. I turned around again and ran away with quick steps.

 

The snowy path was slippery.

 

I was so focused on watching my footing that I noticed too late. The fact that I couldn’t hear any sounds of someone following behind me.

 

‘Is he angry…?’

 

Fed up? Already?

 

Giving up that quickly?

 

“…This is really too much!”

 

That’s harsh, Rampa Lim. People can be a little spiteful sometimes. You’re supposed to be an older brother, yet you give up so easily?

 

I bit my lips hard and then gave up.

 

I obediently retraced my steps back the way I came.

 

Maybe the bond between Rampa Lim and me wasn’t as strong as I had thought…

 

When I went back, at the crossroads where we had just parted, Rampa Lim was sitting casually on the border stones of a flower bed.

 

Seeing me return, his face showed surprise.

 

“Sing-a?”

 

“Why didn’t you follow me?”

 

“…”

 

“Is that all there is to it?”

 

Sigh~ You’re really being ridiculous, Seosing-a.

 

I couldn’t understand what kind of tantrum I was throwing, but Rampa Lim burst into laughter.

 

After looking at me with surprised eyes for just a moment, he smiled so widely that dimples formed on one cheek, then immediately grumbled as if complaining.

 

“You ran away too fast.”

 

“…”

 

“It’s not that I didn’t follow you, I couldn’t! I’m injured.”

 

“Injured?”

 

“Right ankle fracture. It was a collision accident. The kart flipped and went flying through the air. I spun around several times like that. You almost never saw your brother again.”

 

“What? Are you okay?”

 

I was startled and unconsciously stepped closer.

 

Then, thinking I had gotten too close, I tried to step back, but met Rampa Lim’s meaningful gaze looking at me.

 

Eyes filled with laughter, as if teasing.

 

Feeling a surge of emotion, I reflexively raised my hand.

 

“You’re lying-!”

 

“Shh, no. Shh shh. Don’t get angry. Sing-a. It’s not a lie.”

 

Gently grasping my wrist, Rampa Lim pulled it down. His hand that had been in his pocket was still large and warm.

 

“I really almost got thrown out, and if that had happened, I wouldn’t be standing here looking at you like this. I was lucky.”

 

“…”

 

“They said I need to rest my ankle for over a year. I touched the epiphyseal plate, so if I overdo it, my legs will be different lengths for life. Scary, right?”

 

“Yeah… but epiphy- what? What did you say? What is that in Korean?”

 

“Epiphyseal. In Korean… I don’t know.”

 

Rampa Lim replied with an even more puzzled expression than me asking the question, then gently pulled me toward him.

 

“But your brother speaks Korean well now, doesn’t he?”

 

That’s true. I had to admit this.

 

Did he spend three years just eating and studying Korean?

 

Did this guy sell his kart or something? Except for a few awkward pronunciations here and there, he was exactly like a native Korean.

 

At my obedient nod of agreement, Rampa Lim laughed with a sigh mixed in. He leaned his head against me as we had gotten close enough to be touching.

 

“I studied really hard…”

 

“…”

 

“It’s been ages. I thought about you… a lot.”

 

In this position, I couldn’t see Rampa Lim’s expression.

 

I slightly lowered my eyes. Looking down at the top of his head quietly, my feelings were complicated and subtle.

 

‘I should admit it.’

 

I was hurt.

 

That’s why I threw a tantrum.

 

But wasn’t that reasonable?

 

Since my regression, I’ve always been wearing a mask.

 

Due to the disconnect between body and soul, I had to act even in front of my birth parents, and because of the 1 trillion won mission hanging over my head like a sword, I calculated everything in terms of money.

 

Even when making friends, I first thought about whether this person would be helpful to me, and it got worse after I got the dice.

 

Sincerity always came later, as a secondary consideration, so even I often couldn’t distinguish what my true feelings were.

 

The only time I truly thought about nothing and made no calculations was during those four days trapped in the mountain forest with Rampa Lim.

 

Back then, my life was hanging by a thread, so where would I have had the leisure to pull out a calculator?

 

I didn’t care at all about my age or pretenses, and was desperately clinging to and depending only on the body warmth right in front of me.

 

Three years had passed since then… but it remained the same.

 

When I entered enclosed spaces or it got dark, my heart would become troubled, and then naturally I would remember that day, the hand that carefully stroked my back.

 

It was similar to imprinting.

 

It had been unconsciously engraved.

 

But despite all that, I didn’t know Rampa Lim.

 

Even though he had become so deeply rooted in me and become such an important person, I actually didn’t know much about him or feel closer to him than to strangers.

 

When I heard from Jeong Hyeon-gyo that Christmas was Rampa Lim’s birthday, I felt indescribably awful.

 

And even now.

 

‘Why isn’t the dice responding?’

 

The dice that always reacted first when meeting special connections was silent at this moment.

 

Why?

 

Is my connection with Rampa Lim really worse than with strangers?

 

No matter how much he might become a great sports star of the century in the future, we’re still people who went through life and death together!

 

It’s unfair. These feelings definitely aren’t just because I’m materialistic!

 

I stroked the head of Rampa Lim leaning against me with my gloved hand, then decided almost out of stubbornness.

 

‘Test Administrator. I’ll roll the dice.’

 

If you won’t do it, I’ll do it myself.

 

【The ‘Dice of Fate’ has been prepared.】

 

Phew~ Thank goodness.

 

I was worried the dice wouldn’t respond at all!

 

【Challenger, it is your turn.】

 

【Roll the dice.】

 

【Challenger: 6 × 0 = 0】

 

【Test Administrator: 1 × 98 = 98】

 

【0 VS 98 : Crushing defeat!】

 

“Shit!”

 

Are you insane?!

 

【Due to the challenger’s crushing defeat, connection information with ‘Rampa Lim’ remains locked.】

 

【Connection – Rampa Lim, born 1988】

 

【Category: Sports (Formula 1)】

 

【Potential: (Unknown)

 

Destiny Power: (Unknown)

 

Compatibility: (Unknown)

 

Connection Level: (Unknown)】

 

【Were you expecting something? Who can you blame for your luck running out here today? Oh~♪ Rampa Lim~♪ Southern Cyclone! Black Storm From The South And East! You should get his autograph in advance. A living legend like that isn’t someone you can meet every day.】

 

“….”

 

I was overcome with frustration and shoved Rampa Lim away.

 

The pushed Rampa Lim tumbled backward with a thud behind the flower bed.

 

“?? Sing-a?”

 

Ah, oh no…!

 

When did the time stop get released?

 

Rampa Lim looked at me with an aggrieved expression.

 

I wanted to glare at him even more for looking at me like that, but I hid my feelings and put on a deliberately serious tone.

 

“Rampa Lim.”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Why did you leave without saying anything back then?”

 

“Hm?”

 

“Three years ago. You just went to Australia. Without saying a word. Without even saying goodbye….”

 

“…Ah. Ah~. Um… why, were you hurt? So that’s why baby was so angry. I didn’t know. Sorry. I won’t do it again. Promise.”

 

“….”

 

What kind of utterly hollow promise is this?!

 

I slapped away the hand Rampa Lim extended for me to help him up with a sharp sound.

 

‘Fine! If you don’t want to tell me, don’t!’

 

It’s not like I have a crush on someone much younger than me! I won’t worry about it anymore either.

 

I’ll just sell his autographs to my heart’s content after he dies!

 

“Ow ow, I’m a patient. Sing-a~.”

 

“―Rampa hyung?”

 

Our conversation was cut short by a voice from behind us.

 

When I turned toward the sound, Jeong Hyeon-gyo was standing there.

 

“It really is. It really is Rampa hyung, isn’t it? When did you get here?”

 

“Gyo!”

 

Joy and delight spread across Jeong Hyeon-gyo’s face as he looked this way with wide, surprised eyes.

 

It was a rare bright smile from Jeong Hyeon-gyo.

 

Though heavy snow was falling, like the end-of-century gentle boy who carries handkerchiefs in his pocket, he seemed to have brought an umbrella as well. There wasn’t a trace of wetness on Jeong Hyeon-gyo’s coat under his folding umbrella.

 

Jeong Hyeon-gyo walked over to us and gently stroked my head with a soft touch, then took my hand. It was natural.

 

“You didn’t wait long, did you? I was worried because it was snowing.”

 

“No. I came to get an umbrella and ran into Rampa Lim.”

 

“Let’s go inside and talk. No matter how happy you are to see each other. Why are you two out here in the snow? What if you catch a cold again?”

 

That nagging of his.

 

When I pouted, Jeong Hyeon-gyo chuckled as if he couldn’t help it and turned back to Rampa Lim.

 

“How did you get here, hyung? Didn’t you say you were getting surgery in the United States?”

 

What!

 

‘So he told Jeong Hyeon-gyo everything about getting injured too?’

 

I glared even more at Rampa Lim, who only did annoying things, but Rampa Lim didn’t react.

 

He seemed dazed and lost in thought about something.

 

“Rampa hyung?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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