Second dimensional mercenary

Second-Dimensional Mercenary Volume 1, Chapter 4

“Did you get a full-time job offer? Where’s the company? What do they do?”

“I’m telling you, don’t think you can slack off just because you trust me.”

Zing!

Yeonwoo glares sharply at me.

“I’m finding my own way. If things stay the way they are at home, there’s no end in sight. I won’t get married, and I’ll end up like you, thirty or forty and still stuck. So don’t even think about asking me for help.”

“…I won’t, I won’t. Geez, I was just thinking about it.”

This girl! Talking to me like that!

I wanted to scowl, but I forced myself to hold it in. Damn it. Being unemployed is a crime, it really is. No, it’s the lack of money that’s the problem.

“I’m just worried because it’s the night shift. I don’t want some random guy bothering you at night.”

“Mind your own business. I’ll get myself a rich guy and change my life.”

“That’s enough! You’re talking like that… Fine. Keep your phone on all the time, and if anything happens, contact me immediately. Got it?”

I waved my hand, trying to maintain a calm expression. I couldn’t get mad over something like this. It’s my fault I’m getting nagged.

More than anything, it was my younger sister’s first day at work. I couldn’t be upset, I had to support her no matter what.

“…Oppa.”

“Yeah?”

“Make sure Dad eats well. You need to be strong too. You don’t know what I’m thinking as I’m going to work…”

Yeonwoo turned her back. Her voice was heavy with sadness.

No… Her face in the mirror by the front door looked like she was about to cry. What an idiot. Why turn away when you look like that?

“Don’t worry. Fried rice and miso soup are my specialties.”

I gave her a confident smile. Sigh, this girl. Seeing that face makes all my anger disappear.

“…I’m going.”

Clank!

The sound of the iron door closing echoed strangely in my chest.

“Ha…”

I went into my room, feeling a mix of emotions.

‘Damn it. I need to do something.’

So… this year marks my third year of being unemployed. They say once you get used to being poor, you stop caring, but I can’t stand being unemployed.

Yesterday, it was my father, and today, I saw my sister cry. If I could be okay with this, I’d be a bastard.

“Ha… yeah, I need to stop putting things off.”

I’m the eldest son. I’m the one who should be supporting the family.

Supporting the household in this chaotic situation is something I should be doing. I’ve delayed it enough. Whatever the reason, I can’t let it go any longer.

“I’ll grab any job I can find.”

Tap, tap. Tap, tap!

I turned on the computer and quickly went through my bookmarks in order.

First, I started with what I could do from home.

The first step was to check job listing sites.

First, I checked if any companies I had applied to had contacted me. Ah, my inbox was empty.

Next, I searched for new job postings.

“…Tsk, there’s nothing good. It’s either production jobs or general tasks.”

I said I’d take anything, but there’s a limit to that.

The reality of fieldwork in South Korea is that they’ll overwork you, squeeze every last drop out of you, pay you a ridiculously small salary, delay payment for two or three months, and if you quit because you can’t take it anymore, they’ll blacklist you in the industry and make it impossible for you to get another job.

“Damn it, no wonder people are obsessed with big corporations.”

After digging through listings for a while, I closed the job search site.

People who don’t know the reality of working in the field in South Korea keep saying, ‘Don’t just look for big corporations, lower your expectations.’ But I dare them to send their own kids to small businesses first. Or better yet, they should improve the conditions in small companies to be like big corporations. Then, people wouldn’t go to big corporations even if they were told not to.

“Damn it, South Korea. There’s no proper place in this country.”

While cursing the country passionately, I kept opening and closing job search sites, one after another.

Ah, so today’s no different from yesterday. My mindset was grand, but reality is an insurmountable wall, a complete mess.

“Sigh, nothing good. Nothing at all…”

Of course, it’s only natural that the world wouldn’t change in just one day because my situation has become urgent.

Still, is there anything else? Anything different…?

Frustrated, I picked up my phone to check if there were any missed calls, and then I saw it.

The job search site Yeongpali.

“…This?”

Didn’t I delete this?

I tried to recall last night’s events, but I couldn’t be sure.

I think I put the gift coupon in the trash, but I wasn’t sure if I had closed the phone properly after that.

“Well, this is the only thing left, so I might as well try it.”

Ding!

I typed the website address stored in my phone into the PC.

I felt uneasy, but after seeing my father’s tears yesterday and my sister’s tears today, I thought maybe it’s time to try everything I can, even if it’s a bad job.

“Well, if they say something weird, I can just hang up.”

Drip, drip.

The old computer, which had been around for a while, lagged as it tried to load the website I had seen on my phone yesterday.

Ignore, Criticism, Mockery, Empty Wallet…

“Fine, accept.”

Click!

With the sound of the mouse, an hourglass appeared. The old computer kept buffering for a while.

“Please don’t say anything weird, please.”

As long as it’s not a pyramid scheme, I’ll be fine.

The economy is a mess, and it’s hard to even find part-time work. Even construction jobs are unavailable.

The ads on this site were a bit too provocative, but… honestly, the fact that the ads are bold isn’t a crime.

Hello, member.

After a long buffering wait, the screen finally appeared.

Against a black background, silver letters glowed. Surprisingly simple and minimalistic.

It’s a tough, tough, and challenging time.

Ding…

Welcome, member.

You’ve just taken the first step.

It takes great courage to acknowledge that you’re struggling. With that mindset, you’ll surely be able to break through the challenges ahead.

Ding…

Now, let’s take a moment to reflect on yourself.

Have you been making things harder on yourself? Are you neglecting to think more wisely, when you could be living smarter?

Know yourself, and you’ll never be defeated!

Let’s check your specs, your strengths, and even your weaknesses.

Swish, swish, swish.

A checklist with multiple sections appeared.

Basic information like height, weight, and highest level of education, as well as smoking habits, alcohol tolerance, hobbies, and even reading frequency—all of it had to be filled in.

“That’s detailed. This is… Wow!”

Ding ding ding ding.

I clicked through the pages, amazed at the detail.

The list was incredibly thorough. It wasn’t just asking about college grades.

“This is… like a personality evaluation?”

It seemed like they were trying to cover many areas.

They asked about your favorite and least favorite subjects in school, your preferred exam type, memorization or understanding, whether you study alone in a library, in a noisy group study, cramming, or in a consistent manner, and even the part-time jobs you’ve had, the ones you’d like to do, and the ones you’d rather avoid. They even asked about your preferred type of partner.

“What is this? If personal information leaks, it’s over.”

Ding ding ding ding.

I tilted my head but filled out all the details. Honestly, these questions were asking for way too much personal information.

Normally, I would’ve said ‘Screw this!’ and closed it, but there was one reason I continued.

Yeongpali takes great care in managing your personal information. If any data is leaked from this site, we guarantee compensation of 10 million won. This is the site administrator’s promise.

“10 million won… Damn.”

They’re confident. The site administrator’s promise, huh?

Has there ever been a site so proactive about protecting personal information? No.

For a company this bold, I thought it might be okay to go along with it. It’s not like 10 million won would be a big deal. I mean… I can’t deny the impact the compensation guarantee has had on me.

“Now, this is clever. Haha, good thinking.”

If you dangle 10 million in front of someone, it’s hard not to be tempted. I know it, but I still fell for it.

As I thought about how much I was learning, I kept clicking through.

Do you have a hobby you spend more than 20 hours a week on? (Games are fine too)

“Yeah.”

Ding.

What is the most important value to you? (Personal success / Family / Social status)

“Right now, family.”

Click.

Let’s assume you won the lottery or something like that. What would you do with the money?

Secure stable income sources like buildings or real estate.
Use the large sum of money to start a business I’ve always wanted to try.
Enjoy leisure activities that I haven’t been able to do, like traveling, going to graduate school, or self-improvement.

“…Whoa, this is…”

Some questions I could answer right away, but others made me think for a while before I could respond.

“I’d go with number 2.”

Click.

As I clicked the mouse, I realized I was smiling.

“This is fun.”

Exploring yourself, seeing aspects of yourself that you didn’t know, there’s a strange pleasure in it.

Had I ever analyzed myself from so many angles before? I don’t think so.

It started as just checking specs for a job application, but before I knew it, I was enjoying Yeongpali’s, though the name is really an error, self-analysis program. Honestly.

Here’s the last question. Don’t think too much about it, don’t compare yourself to others, just answer whatever comes to mind.

Do you consider yourself a valuable person?

“…Yeah.”

Click.

I nodded seriously.

You’ve answered all the questions. Thank you.

Data transmission in progress. 1%… 2%…

“Phew…”

After completing the long series of questions, I sank back into my chair.

‘When did it all start?’

I felt small.

Writing resumes and self-introductions for companies, I had tailored myself to fit those forms.

TOEIC scores, certificates, college degree, and final grades.

The specs the interviewers required became my value, and as that cycle repeated, I started thinking that those specs were the most important thing in my life.

I didn’t meet those expectations. So, I started seeing myself as someone unworthy. But why did I live like that?

In reality, it wasn’t like that.

After just one personality evaluation, the world started to look different. I’ve heard that great monks find great enlightenment in simple things. I feel like I’m starting to understand that sentiment today.

98%… 99%… Complete.

Data transmission complete.

Simulation tutorial is now starting.

The transfer to the second dimension begins. Please prepare.

“Huh? What? What did you say?”

Still feeling a strange sense of relaxation, I stared at the sentence on the monitor in disbelief. What is this? Are they messing with me…?

Whoosh!

In an instant, a blinding flash of light erupted.

SCENE 2. Persons

Clang! Clang! Boom!

Boom!

The sound of metal screeching and a loud, vibrating noise shook my body. I snapped out of my daze.

Boom!

A massive stone crashed down, and a person was crushed in front of me. Sparks flew, and dirt was kicked up. The air was thick with smoke and the smell of blood.

The stench was so strong it was hard to breathe.

“W-What is this?!”

Swoosh! Bang!

Something flew at me at high speed.

A huge shield, covered with sharp, barbed arrows, was being held by someone, and they shouted at me.

“Persons! What are you doing?! Do you want to die?!”

“Eh? No, right now…”

Is this a movie set? What the hell is going on…?

Bang!

With a sharp blow, my jaw snapped to the side.

“Get it together! Huh! Do you want to die here?!”

“S-sorry, Sergeant!”

The words escaped my mouth before I even thought about it. It wasn’t a thought, but something my tongue had absorbed. I shook my head and nodded.

Cheol-ho? What kind of name is that? What was I just thinking? No, don’t think about it.

Damn, this must be what battlefield fear feels like.

‘My name is Persons, Persons. What I saw earlier was just a hallucination.’