Chapter 4

I am not an orphan. But both of my parents have passed away. Just as I was about to enter university, my father and mother died in a traffic accident. The reason I, a salaried worker, was able to get an apartment in a mixed-use building was thanks to their insurance money. I managed to get a loan because the company I barely got into was a mid-sized firm.

Anyway, after being discharged from the military, I often went to volunteer activities because of such incidents.

In a way, it was a form of self-comfort, and I had the arrogant thought that I could empathize with that pain to some extent.

The content of the group chat was about a nursery we regularly volunteer at and support, which was in danger of being evicted unless they paid nearly 300 million won due to legal issues.

It was difficult to say anything one-sided to the landowner, as the landowner had passed away and the land was now in the hands of their children.

The nursery I arrived at by car was still the same. On the other side of the six-lane road, there was a high-rise apartment complex. On the opposite side of the road, there was a small hill.

It felt as if the road was a boundary line between here and there. It might just be a sense of victimization.

"Hello, Director."

"Oh! Shin-woo? What brings you here on a weekday?"

Our group visited this nursery at least three times a year, and since the distance from my home wasn't far, I visited once a quarter on my own, so the director recognized me right away.

Just by looking at the director's face, you wouldn't know that the nursery had such problems. Without a hint of shadow, she offered me coffee and waited for me to explain why I was there.

"I heard the news."

What was that like a trigger? The shadow hidden in the director's face was revealed.

"This."

"What is this...?"

I think the director thought I had come to contribute some money. But what I handed her was a brown envelope. And inside it was,

"Shin-woo?"

"Yes. It's a deed. Also known as a land document."

"How... how did you...?!"

"I bought it. This land."

"Really?"

It's understandable that she couldn't grasp what had happened. The market value was over 190 million won.

"And this."

This time, I handed her a white envelope.

The director's eyes widened as she opened the envelope, looking back and forth between the check and me. She put the envelope down on the desk with a thud and sighed deeply a couple of times.

"Shin-woo. What's going on?"

I thought this was what experience was. Yet, her face was filled with genuine concern.

"Yes."

There was nothing to hide, so I answered that way. After all, she would find out in less than a year. How would she find out?

"I'm going to die. I have cancer. They say I don't have much time left."

"..."

"But I don't have any family. You know that, right? Anyway, before I go, I wanted to distribute my assets to the nurseries I volunteered at. I just started a bit earlier. If you look at the documents in the envelope, you'll see that this land will be donated to Hope Nursery when I die."

"Shin-woo... sniff!"

The director has always been like this. When I told her about my past, that my parents died in a traffic accident when I was twenty, she cried for me.

"And the check, well, I could have transferred it to your account, but I wanted to do it this way. In dramas and movies, they often wave or throw several ten million won checks, right? Haha."

The director, who knew I was trying to change the subject, forced a smile with teary eyes,

"Yes. That's cool! Sniff."

She finally cried, repeating "Thank you" several times, and I had to comfort her. Just as she was calming down, the chicken and pizza I ordered arrived in a flood.

That day.

Watching the happy children, I felt like I saw the path for the rest of my life.

The next day, I visited Hope Nursery early in the morning. I had already ordered a lot of children's clothes, shoes, and other necessities through a shopping app the day before. I wanted to see the children's pure and enthusiastic joy when they received them.

I also spent money like water at two other nurseries, buying the land and ordering a large amount of items the children needed.

It was a time I can confidently say was truly, completely, and without a doubt, a happy period. Until the world ended.

* * *

"Brother?"

"Yeah. Sorry. What do you mean by 'take care of you'? Is there a problem at the nursery...? Oh, is it that time already?"

The time when there was a problem with the nursery's land would be around now.

"No, it's not that..."

"What is it? Speak your mind."

"The Earth's Will I met earlier... said I should live with you from now on."

"Really? Why did you say it so hesitantly?"

"Well... here... together."

"Ah."

It's a difficult thing to say. She's wearing a school uniform, but as far as I know, she'll be an adult after this year, which is only a month away. And for a pretty young woman to live with someone like me would be a tough situation in many ways.

"If it's inconvenient, I can talk to that person later. You don't have to go that far."

"No! It's not that. I thought Brother might be uncomfortable."

"What's uncomfortable? There's plenty of room, so use it comfortably."

"Okay! Brother!"

"Ah, should I contact the nun first?"

"I already did! Actually, I just left the nursery today!"

"Really? Is that possible?"

"Yes. As you know, nurseries are struggling these days... Hehe."

Seeing Yuda-yeon scratch her cheek and smile brightly, I was at a loss for words. Maybe for these children, this world isn't much different from an apocalyptic one.

"Brother?"

"Ah. Hmm. You'll need a lot of money."

Thinking about the future. Not just the nursery, but...

"Ah, work!"

It's a weekday. Of course, the company will be in an uproar since I didn't go to work today.

"So first... the hospital... No, I need to be fasting for the endoscopy, so let's do the lottery first."

After making the hospital reservation and doing some online research,

"Do you want to go with me?"

I asked Yuda-yeon, who was still fidgeting with her fingers.

"Really?!"

"Let's go. We can eat something nice outside and buy some clothes too."

"Okay, Brother."

Yuda-yeon nodded with a bright smile, and her short hair danced as if reflecting her mood.

"Brother! I'll help you!"

Yuda-yeon, wearing a slightly worn-out coat, stood next to me with a cheerful face.

"I'm not sick, you know?"

"But you are, aren't you? You're a cancer patient."

"...You knew that too?"

"I read it in the newspaper."

"Still, it looks strange to be helping me."

We left the house and drove around various areas, visiting lottery ticket booths. Is it to avoid unnecessary attention? That's only half true. On the contrary, I need to attract attention, but in a subtle way.

But that's not important right now.

"It's the first day of my return. I need to be busy."

I hadn't been this busy, dividing my time, in a long time. By the time I had roughly sorted things out, the day was almost over, and the sky was painted with a red sunset.

A peaceful and clean sky. The red and yellow sunset dyed the sky like a scene from a masterpiece oil painting.

I stared at it for a while.

On the first day of my return from hell, I cried at the morning scenery, was moved by the evening sunset, and was enchanted by the colorful night view.

Just up to that point.

Soft emotions are a luxury I can only afford for one day.

It's early December.

Less than a year until the end of the world begins in August. There's no time to be complacent. More preparation is never enough.

*

I spent the weekend sorting things out. As expected, the company didn't say much about my sudden resignation. They were considerate, as before, so I didn't have to spend time on handover. Fortunately.

On Saturday's lottery draw, as expected, I won. I had bought additional lottery tickets in various parts of Seoul, meaning I had 10 winning tickets in my drawer.

I woke up early on Monday morning. Actually, I've been waking up early since my return. I sleep as much as I need, take painkillers regularly, and divide my time into minutes to prepare and handle multiple tasks simultaneously.

I had already been to the main branch of the agricultural cooperative near Seodaemun Station before my return. Of course.

Maybe because I had been there before, I wasn't nervous even though I had to claim multiple first-prize winnings.

"Brother! When you get the prize, buy me some tteokbokki!"

"Is tteokbokki enough? I can buy you steak. This guy has that kind of ability."

"Hehehe~. I don't like steak. I like tteokbokki! With fish cakes, eggs, and seaweed rolls!"

"Sure, sure."

Worried about Yuda-yeon taking my money or wasting it? I don't. Does that mean I trust people easily? No. I've spent a painful decade being betrayed by people.

Still, I trust Yuda-yeon for reasons in the past, present, and future.

In the past, before my return, Yuda-yeon took care of me with unwavering dedication. Taking care of a vegetative state is not something that can be done just because it's difficult and troublesome.

In the present, because she is the child chosen by the Earth's Will, to prepare for the coming destruction.

In the future, in about nine months, the safest place on Earth is not the bunker under the White House, but the land I stand on. I know this, and Yuda-yeon knows this.

In conclusion, Yuda-yeon is a child who won't betray me, can't betray me, and has no reason to betray me.

"Here it is. Please confirm the deposit."

I claimed the lottery winnings. There were no issues in the process. They deposited the amount without hesitation, even with ten tickets. There was no typical savings account recommendation.

What's strange is not just that.

"Why are you giving me so much?"

The winnings are a lot. It seems to be twice as much as expected. No, wait. It's more than double?

Before my return, the first prize amount for the lottery I won was around 20.1 billion won. I know it's roughly 20 billion won. There were two other winners besides me. This time, I bought ten tickets, so I have ten out of the twelve first-prize winning numbers.

So, about 16.7 billion won. After 33% tax, it's 11.2 billion won. My planned and expected amount to receive is 11.2 billion won. But the amount in my account is 23.6 billion won.

"Isn't more better?"

"..."

Now that I think about it, it's strange. The child who is enthusiastically eating tteokbokki doesn't seem to care or be surprised about the money I received. She just wants tteokbokki, a menu that costs less than 20,000 won in total.

If she read the news, she would know how much I won, but she doesn't seem to find it strange.

We moved to a café that smelled of strong coffee, not spicy tteokbokki. As soon as we entered the café,

"You're surprisingly perceptive, aren't you?"

Yuda-yeon had transformed into the Earth's Will.

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Hello.

This is Shim-hang.

Thank you for visiting today.

I will see you again tomorrow.

Damn.

"Are you too surprised? Oh, are you more surprised by something else? This? It's not as sweet as you think."

No, it seems very sweet. I can smell the fragrance across the table just by speaking.

After Yuda-yeon transformed into the Earth's Will, she calmly drank more than half of the incredibly sweet black sugar latte in one go, and I almost let out a hollow laugh.

"Too persistent men are not attractive. But you seem different from last time? You looked like you were about to die. Now, you're trying harder to live than before the return?"

Yes, I admit it.

Isn't it too spineless for a man? Isn't it too servile to immediately lower your head and use polite language?

Not at all.