If I Don’t Earn 1 Trillion Won, My Regression Ends - Chapter 88

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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 88

8 PM.

The time when ferry operations between Capri had ended for the day.

It was the hour when Southern European restaurants, which serve dinner late, were getting genuinely busy.

Summer peak season at a resort destination – this was when it was most crowded.

Since the auction event restrictions had just been lifted, the plaza was packed with tourists who had come out for dinner, making the population density extremely high.

“I just let go of his hand for a moment to wash my hands, I really just let go for a moment.”

But when he turned his head, the child had disappeared.

Seo Shin-hyeon’s voice trembled uncontrollably, his entire body drenched in sweat.

He was a former soldier. Though he had been discharged long ago, he had never even imagined losing a child under his watch.

That’s why he was even more panicked.

“I searched everywhere but couldn’t find him, so I thought maybe since the kid is smart, he went looking for his sister, so I came here, but no, this isn’t the time for this. I need to go back quickly-“

Seo Shin-hyeon’s eyes were red. Bae Seo-nyeok gripped his shoulder tightly.

“What about the police? Did you report it?”

“Yeah. Following the missing person response manual. Korean male, 8 years old. Navy polo shirt, beige shorts, has a wound on his knee… Of all days, I had to dress him in a navy shirt today. It doesn’t even have patterns, so it’s hard to identify distinctive features, I must be crazy. Why did I put him in something like that, it’s already been 20 minutes-“

“Hyung. Brother. Stay calm. Where did you lose him?”

“The last point was in front of the water fountain on the west side of the plaza…”

“Let’s split up and search starting from there.”

With a stern expression, Bae Seo-nyeok turned to look at Park Jun-ok.

“Please watch Sing-a for a moment.”

As he spoke, he quickly scribbled a note and handed it to Park Jun-ok.

“We’ll come back as soon as we find the child, but if you think we’re taking too long, take the kid to this place. Please, I’m asking you.”

Though they had old grudges between them, they weren’t adults who couldn’t distinguish the severity of situations.

Park Jun-ok nodded hesitantly, but Seosing-a, growing anxious at being constantly excluded, interrupted.

“I want to help look too. Even one more pair of hands would-“

“Seosing-a!”

Seosing-a flinched and looked up at her father.

Seo Shin-hyeon’s face, stern from shouting, was as resolute as a stranger’s.

“Stay here. This isn’t something for a child to get involved in.”

“Dad…”

“…”

He was about to say more but gave up and pulled his daughter into his arms. Seosing-a felt her father’s arms trembling like aspen leaves as he held her.

“Dad is really sorry to you kids… I’m sorry.”

To lose a child twice. He really wasn’t qualified to be a parent. Seo Shin-hyeon wanted to shoot himself in the head.

“Dad will be back soon. After finding your brother.”

“…Yeah. Dad. I understand.”

Don’t cry…

At sunset, the two men quickly disappeared outside the hotel.

Silence settled over the room.

Though sounds of people coming and going, voices from the lobby outside the door could be heard, this place was quiet as if isolated.

Park Jun-ok, who had been looking down at her well-manicured nails, hesitated before finally speaking the words that had been circling in her mind.

“Hey. Later, please put in a good word for me with your father… Ah, never mind.”

Seeing Seo Shin-hyeon just moments ago, she had nearly fainted. She truly couldn’t help but feel regret.

‘Why didn’t I recognize him at the taxi stop? Someone who so obviously screams military!’

Someone’s misunderstanding was piling up layer by layer, but Seosing-a, who had no way of knowing, quietly rubbed her eyes.

“…Are you crying?”

“…”

“Don’t do that. I can’t comfort kids. I’ve never even comforted my own son.”

“…”

“Of course, my son has never cried in front of me… but that doesn’t mean I’m lacking as a mother. Crying and wailing, those are things only ordinary kids do. My son isn’t a common child. Oh right, you don’t know who my son is, do you? If you heard, you’d probably be shocked-“

“I’m going to use the restroom.”

Seosing-a abruptly stood up. Cold sweat trickled down her young face as she left the room.

♧

“Hey! Watch out, young lady!”

“Sorry- Sorry!”

The foreigners I bumped into at the entrance while rushing out shouted something, but I couldn’t even properly apologize. There was only one thought in my head.

‘Why on earth didn’t I think of this earlier?’

The restroom was just an excuse.

Once outside the hotel, I gritted my teeth and ran.

It had been a few hours ago.

Before the auction event started, when we were touring Capri’s downtown area, a conversation I had with my brother.

Next to the public restroom for tourists. Seeing the orange public phone booth placed at the street corner, I casually said to Seo Cheong-song.

“There’s a public phone over there. If you ever get lost, go inside one of those. Don’t wander around just anywhere.”

“Why?”

“Because it makes you easier to find. If there’s a phone card someone threw away, you can pick it up and use it to call. You know the dormitory number, right?”

“I don’t remember… What was it again?”

“I don’t know. Actually, I didn’t memorize it either.”

“Sister’s an idiot.”

“Shut up. We can just meet there. Don’t follow strange people and just stay quietly in one place. Got it?”

“Then will sister come pick me up?”

“Of course.”

Idiot.

Just like Seo Cheong-song said, I’m a real idiot fool.

Why couldn’t I think of it right away?

Unlike the future bratty and stubborn police officer, the current eight-year-old Seo Cheong-song was such a good little sister-follower that he would have trusted and followed his sister’s words completely.

He would be waiting just as promised, only for me to come pick him up…!

Passersby turned to look at me crying as I ran, some seeming like they wanted to stop me and ask what was wrong, but I just ran like crazy.

Since I had no way to contact Dad and Bae Seo-nyeok who had already left, I had no choice but to run on my own two feet.

The sunset sky was coloring like a paint-stained palette.

The sea below the cliff rippled orange. As soon as the sun broke below that horizon, everything would become dark. Before it gets any later…!

“Cheong-song! Seo Cheong-song!!!”

The restroom building came into view in the distance.

Shouting, I ran toward the phone booth at the corner.

‘Please be there. Please…!’

My luck stat went up, they said. It went up!

Then luck should prove to me that it’s helping me!!

“…”

I slowly sank down.

Inside the empty phone booth.

Right in front of the phone, thick phone books and free guidebooks were messily stacked on the floor.

Traces of someone using them as a stepping stool… traces of a young child who couldn’t reach the phone struggling and trying hard.

Seeing that, tears burst out helplessly.

I covered my face and cried out loud. I was too late. Too late.

In the midst of despair, only that thought came to mind.

♧

“[Are you alright, dear? You still don’t look well.]”

“[I’m fine.]”

“[Where’s your guardian? We’re worried about you. Honey, you’re still young and can’t keep staying alone like this.]”

“[I have to wait for my younger brother. We agreed to meet here.]”

At the kind white elderly couple’s repeated urging, I shook my head and spoke clearly in English.

In Western countries, they absolutely cannot stand to see a child alone. Especially during this era.

As a young Asian girl stood crying in front of the phone booth, passersby naturally began approaching with worried words.

But I couldn’t leave this spot.

Seo Cheong-song was a smart kid, and there was a high probability he would return here at some point.

So I just mechanically repeated my words.

That I knew where my guardian was, that I was currently under no threat or danger, and that I was simply waiting for my younger brother.

“[I understand. But if you need help, don’t hesitate to ask anyone around. Everyone will be happy to help you.]”

“[Yes. Thank you.]”

“[…Wait a moment, dear.]”

The woman who was about to leave grabbed my arm again. She looked at me carefully, then lowered her voice to whisper.

“[I might be mistaken… but just in case, I think you should go to the restroom. Shall I come with you?]”

“….”

I froze and stared blankly before shaking my head.

There was a nuance that only women understood, and I caught on immediately. Plus, I had a certain intuition.

‘No wonder.’

No wonder…! My body had been feeling off since morning. No wonder it hurt even more after eating ice cream, like being squeezed!

How could I be so stupid.

Having lived without it for over 10 years, I had completely forgotten that I was at the age to start menstruating soon.

After confirming the bloodstain on my pants in the restroom, I groaned in despair.

‘Is my luck really this terrible today?’

“…This is way too unfair.”

It was summer and a resort area, so my clothes were extremely light. I didn’t have a single cardigan to cover up with. And of all things, white pants.

Unable to do anything either way, I sat blankly in the stall staring at the restroom door.

‘I need to wait for Cheong-song.’

I need to go out.

I need to move.

‘Move. Seosing-a.’

But my mind was quiet as if bleached.

I was just endlessly tired and exhausted.

Empty thoughts continued on and on… what wealth and glory was I trying to enjoy by coming all the way to a foreign country to do this, why did I regress, why did Park Min-su have to regress that day – my thoughts flowed all the way to questioning the very reason for this worldview’s existence.

– Your sister is really here? Are you sure?

– Yeah! That grandmother just pointed with her finger and showed me! Hurry, hyung! Something seemed wrong with noona! Hurry and go in!

“!”

I looked up in shock.

W-wait, this voice is…!

– What’s your eyesight? Can’t you see this? Ladies. Even if you can’t read the alphabet, you should recognize the picture. Do you know what kind of social stigma I’d get for going through this door, you brat. Just because it’s not your life doesn’t mean you can be reckless.

– But hyung, we came to see our sister!

– I said we came to see Sing-a, not to commit social suicide.

– There’s no one here. It’s just us, so what does it matter. I’ll keep watch for you.

– Cheong-song, you’ll never become a police officer when you grow up. You’ll be eliminated early in the background check.

– Hyung!

– Wait a moment. [Excuse me, signora. Would it be alright if I put up this cleaning sign for a moment? My friend is inside and something seems to be wrong. I’ll just check and come right out. Yes, thank you. If it’s okay, could you also watch my younger brother for a moment?]

A voice speaking fluent Italian could be heard at a not-too-distant range, then soon a heavy sound like setting down a sign was heard much closer.

“Sing-a?”

Followed by the sound of confident footsteps.

Knock knock.

“Baby?”

“….”

“You’re in there, right?”

Rampa Lim carefully lowered his voice and waited a moment, then changed his tone to be even gentler as he asked again.

“Do you need my help?”

…Really, I couldn’t help it.

Even when I didn’t want to cry, tears came out.

I sniffled through my stuffy nose and nodded with all my might.

“Yeah… I need, *sob*, I need help…!”

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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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