Chapter 4 : What does the returner live for?

THE V-BOX’s selling point is ‘Enjoy retro games in virtual reality!’.

As such, this game center was designed to stimulate retro sensibility to a maddening degree.

From the interior decoration of the building, the design of the lobby seen when connecting to virtual reality, to the huge connection device object in the form of an old arcade game machine.

Naturally, the games you play were no different.

Since the games themselves are old, even if the controls or system have been slightly modified for Virtual, the sensibility you can feel from the games is still sufficiently retro style.

And retro games had an essential element.

An essential element that has not disappeared since the days of putting coins in arcades to the time when we converted and enjoyed them with emulators.

[(NEW!!) 1ST. □□□□: 1943801700].

It was the ranking system.

The ranking system, commonly seen in old arcades, where you compete by how quickly you cleared the game and how many points you got, was an essential element that all retro games had.

No, it would be more accurate to say that the ranking system spread to other games and created tiers, scores, and rank systems, so stimulating competitive psychology is the basis of the game.

And today.

[(NEW!!) 1ST. □□□□: 2‘07″.002].

[(NEW!!) 1ST. □□□□: 99999999 – 11‘47″.937].

[(NEW!!) 1ST. □□□□: 472616496000].

[(NEW!!) 1ST. □□□□: 1‘58″.400].

All the number one rankings in all the games in THE V-BOX started to be replaced.

“Huh? What?”

“Oh my god. All the rankings are changing!”.

“Wow, those scores were possible?”

“Ranking massacre!”.

As you can tell from the name, classic games are full of unbelievably skilled players.

Of course, it was never easy to surpass the scores of these monsters.

Of course, since the games here are retro games reinterpreted in virtual reality, the game method or style has changed, so you might think there are no skilled players….

Virtual reality has been out for over 10 years!

10 years is enough time for a bunch of rotten fossils to be produced in the gaming world.

Moreover, THE V-BOX’s games are not as fun as the mainstream of virtual reality games, so it’s a rotten water game that only ‘people who play it play’.

“Wow, it was possible to clear it in under 13 minutes.”

“Crazy, a score of 470 billion….”

“Aaargh! Is the new fossil a monster?!”.

All the game rankings of THE V-BOX, which were built up by those who were so rotten that they became fossils, were being replaced by an unknown newcomer.

So, the number one ranking of all retro games installed in THE V-BOX was changed to a user who didn’t even have a name, and while many retro gamers gathered in the virtual reality lobby to discuss who this skilled player was.

“Phew.”

“Your face has brightened.

Did you enjoy the game?”

“Yes.

It’s fun.

I sorted out my thoughts.”

“You sorted out your thoughts?”

The ‘skilled player’ who achieved that monstrous result smiled at the bodyguard who was looking at her with a puzzled expression.

“I just decided what I’m going to do with my life.”

◈ ◈ ◈

David Kim, who had been leisurely enjoying the e-cigarette liquid that embodied the savory taste of peanut butter that would be spread on toast at a New York brunch shop that opens early in the afternoon, was startled by a sudden banging noise and opened the door.

“……Ms. Seong Won?”

There stood a petite girl.

No, his employer, a billionaire with assets in the trillions.

Seong Won looked up at him with eyes like a coldly shining blade on a waning moon night and said as if it were natural.

“I have something to talk about, can I come in?”

“Wh-What?”

David Kim couldn’t hide his bewilderment at her attitude, as if she hadn’t intended to listen to his answer in the first place, and was trying to squeeze in first.

Aside from being so arrogant and self-centered, right now, the room is full of e-cigarette vapor!

“W-Wait a minute.

I just smoked an e-cigarette indoors, so if you come in, you might be uncomfortable because of the vapor…….”

“Did you do drugs?

Cocaine?

Meth?”

Why is the change of thought going that way?

Rather, at this point, he was wide awake.

David Kim quickly regained his composure, reminding himself that the girl in front of him was his employer, and shook his head.

“Absolutely, absolutely not.”

“Then it doesn’t matter, right?

Move.”

Saying that, the girl slipped past him.

David Kim was dumbfounded by her bold move.

‘As long as it’s not drugs, it doesn’t matter…? ’

A stupid groan flowed out, but what could he do when the employer said it didn’t matter.

More than that, no matter how much it is an employer-employee relationship, does she have no hesitation in entering someone else’s room?

Even a man’s room who is more than 20 years older than her?

‘……I don’t know.’

It would be better for his mental health not to worry about this.

David Kim concluded with a찝찝한 face and trudged to the table.

“Oh, this room is also quite nice.

There’s a picture, too?”

There, he saw Seong Won looking around and appraising his room.

He couldn’t understand why she was eyeing a $750 room while staying in the most expensive penthouse suite of a five-star hotel.

Doesn’t that room have a genuine painting by a famous contemporary artist?

That’s just ordinary graphic art.

‘I don’t understand at all.

What kind of person is she.’

David Kim swallowed dryly as he watched Seong Won giggling while taking pictures of the painting with her camera.

David Kim, he is a Korean-American.

Because he is a second-generation immigrant, both of his parents were Korean, and naturally, he was instilled with Korean culture unknowingly from a young age.

Thanks to this, David Kim could confidently say that he knew Korean culture well.

But Seong Won was a person that David Kim could not judge by his standards.

Neither by the values of Koreans instilled from childhood, nor by the values of Americans.

‘It’s like… she came from another world.’

While assisting Seong Won closely for several days, David Kim came to understand this strange and bizarre employer to some extent.

This girl, yes.

‘……Royalty.

She seems like royalty.’

He felt a similar feeling when he encountered the royals of the Middle Eastern oil kingdoms in the past.

The royals who possessed the cheat key of the real world, oil, and the invincible power, showed this appearance.

‘No, it’s more than that.’

An immeasurable pride that seems to have no end.

Confidence that overflows and affects the people around her.

And infinite self-assurance that springs from deep within her heart, which can even be described as arrogant!

He couldn’t understand how that was possible.

Clearly, as far as David Kim knew, she was just a person who was lucky enough to win the lottery.

Of course, Seong Won may be from a prestigious family in Korea, but considering her level of economic knowledge, it was highly unlikely.

‘……Then the reason for her lack of life skills is not explained.’

I don’t know.

I don’t know anything.

Every time he saw something like this, David Kim couldn’t help but suspect that there was such a thing as a fixed destiny.

Even though he didn’t trust determinism at all.

David Kim sighed lowly.

And when he raised his head, he saw his petite employer staring at him with eyes shining like the universe.

David Kim quickly straightened his posture.

“I-I’m sorry.

I was tired and must have dozed off for a moment, I couldn’t hear the conversation.

What were you saying?”

“Nothing in particular?

I didn’t say anything.

I could feel that your mind was wandering somewhere.”

At the employer’s consideration, David Kim broke out in a cold sweat, but bowed his head.

He was too distracted.

“I-Is that so?

I’m sorry.”

But, what does she mean by ‘felt’ just now?

“First, let’s check.

How is the secretary going?”

Before the question could even pop into his head, Seong Won’s question flew in.

David Kim killed unnecessary thoughts and quickly spat out an answer mechanically.

“For now, we are trying to recruit in a different direction.”

“A different direction?”

“Yes.

Considering what Seong Won-nim said, I judged that you wanted someone to take responsibility for your overall life, including the role of a secretary… a kind of general butler role.”

“Oh… a general butler.”

Seong Won’s eyes sparkled at the word butler.

“Therefore, I contacted the Netherlands International Butler Academy and received a recommendation for a competent person.”

“Oh, the International Butler Academy.”

Is it because the reaction is good even though it’s not a particularly special answer?

He felt strangely rewarded and relaxed.

David Kim answered with a more comfortable heart.

“Since Seong Won-nim said that you will continue to reside in Korea, I have processed that talent to come to Korea first.

You can do the interview in Korea.

The personal information is written here, in this document.”

“Good.

Butler.

Very good.”

Seong Won took out only the documents from the document envelope that David Kim handed over, folded them neatly without even checking the contents, and stuffed them into her Hawaiian shirt pocket.

“I’ll check this separately later and tell you.

First, let’s talk about what I was going to say.

I have a request.”

“Hmm, a request.

Please tell me anything.”

Seong Won slid her smartphone to David Kim.

A picture was displayed on the smartphone screen, and when he checked, it was a picture of a virtual machine for virtual reality connection.

The design was a little different from the standard model, probably because it was separately tuned.

He wondered what she wanted him to do by just throwing a picture out of the blue, but David Kim, who had a brilliant brain enough to graduate from Yale, immediately grasped the context.

‘Hmm.

This is….’

Being able to understand and respond to what the employer wants without being directly mentioned is a skill required in the PB industry.

Of course, David Kim, an expert, couldn’t fail to do that.

He nodded.

“Confirmed.

I will immediately find a professional tuning company for virtual machines.

Should I go with this design?”

“Yes?”

However, Seong Won’s eyebrows furrowed.

Of course, a drop of cold sweat formed on David Kim’s forehead as well.

‘Wh-Why?’

Did he misunderstand?

But, wasn’t the conversation just now about tuning the virtual machine!

Is there something that he, an elite financier, didn’t notice!

Just in case, David Kim asked back.

“……By any chance, did you mean to acquire the tuning company?”

Seong Won frowned and scolded him.

“What are you talking about?

I need to buy this game console, but I don’t know how to buy it, so I’m telling you to buy it for me.”

“Ah.”

Only then did David Kim remember.

The fact that his employer had a life skill that could only be described as catastrophic.

“……I understand.

I will order a high-end virtual machine.

Customization will only be possible after trying it out, and should the machine be shipped to Korea?”

“Of course.

Of course, I need to find a new house in Korea, so I need to take care of that too.

And please get the best internet broadcasting equipment, and also form a related team because I need advice on broadcasting…….”

“Yes?

Wait a minute.

Broadcasting, what do you mean…?”

David Kim, wondering what this was all about, looked at his employer with wide eyes.

Then she smiled confidently.

“I’m going to become the world’s best internet broadcaster.”

What the hell does that mean.

David Kim stopped thinking further.