Eleuthernemis System

Chapter Two

He opened the door to his study and threw me on the floor.

“Ow” I said rubbing the back of my head feeling a dull pain coming from it.

The door opened and Yeon-seo walked in, she sat on a leather chair like a queen sitting on her throne.

She looked at me the way an actual queen would look at a commoner that was covered in dirt and piss.

“You have some nerve showing up here,” she said, wrinkling her nose.

“This is my father's funeral, I have the right to be here! It’s my house …”

“Your house?” Ji seok laughed sharply and cruelly. “Not only are you useless, you're delusional”.

Han Yeon-seo pulled out a folder and slid it across the desk.

“Your father's will was read this morning, you weren't mentioned”.

The words took a moment to land. “What?”

“Not a single won. Not a single property, your name wasn't even mentioned, not once”. She smiled mockingly. “It's like you were never his son”.

My hands shook as I reached forward and grabbed the folder from the desk.

I knew it deep down, I already expected it but I still held onto some hope that maybe somewhere, deep down, he considered me as a son, but that hope shattered as soon as I opened the folder.

Pages of legal texts, distribution and assets. My eyes scanned desperately for my name. Nothing. Not even a foot note.

“The picture …”

“Was thrown out with the rest of your trash” Ji seok said, folding his arms across his chest.

“Mother thought it was depressing, having that woman's face in the house”.

“You threw it away? That was the only …”

“You have one hour to leave,” Yeon Seo interrupted. “We’ve already had your things removed, don't make this harder than it needs to be”.

I stood up feeling anger surge through me.

“This is illegal. I'm his son, I have rights …”

“Do you?” She said and tilted her head. “Because according to every legal document, every family record, you're nothing but a reminder of his first wife and now that he's gone …” She waved her hand dismissively.

“There's no reason to keep reminding ourselves of that man’s worst mistake” Ji seok said cruelly.

“Where am I supposed to go?” I muttered looking down.

Silence. Both of them looked at me with absolute disgust.

“One hour” Ji seok repeated, opening the door. “Or we’ll call security” and with that they left the room.

I felt my legs grow weak and I fell on the floor, I suddenly thought of my mum. I thought of the only picture I had of her that they threw out, maybe I could still get it.

I stood up quickly and felt a surge of energy run through me. I ran out of the study and passed the mourners.

They were eating expensive food and drinking expensive wine. I caught snippets of the conversation they were having.

They were all talking about what a great man Seo Doshin was but they had no idea who he really was.

I ignored them and continued running with all my strength to the trash bins. I could feel my heart pounding as I opened the lid smiling.

Nothing.

There was nothing there. I stared at the trash bin and felt my world spin then I heard the sound of a truck.

It was the dump truck, I ran after it with all my strength screaming at them to stop but they didn't hear me.

I tripped and stared at the truck as it got farther away. Tears streamed down my cheeks washing away the dirt that now clung to my face.

I sat up slowly feeling something finally break in me, I brought my phone out of my pocket, 3%, I stared at the screen exhausted.

My wallet had 8000 won. Everything I owned was in the clothes I was wearing.

I laughed knowing how unhinged I must have looked to the people on the street. I stood up and started walking.

Twenty years old. No family. No money. No home. No future.

I found myself at a bridge. The Han river glittering below. Cars rushed past me. The water looked peaceful.

“Would anyone even notice?” I said out loud.

Maybe the internet cafe owner. He might wonder why I stopped coming.

I gripped the railing. Feeling the cold metal against my palm. I closed my eyes. This was it.

[Do you want to live?]

My eyes shot open. I spun around but no one was there. Just an empty sidewalk.

“Great. Now I'm hearing voices”

[Not voices. Me]

A screen appeared in front of me, floating in the air. Blue and glowing like something out of a game. I blinked but it didn't disappear.

[SYSTEM INITIALIZATION COMPLETE]

[USER DETECTED: SEO IREUM]

[STATUS: CRITICAL]

[INTERVENTION REQUIRED]

“What the hell …”

[YOU HAVE BEEN SELECTED BY THE ELEUTHERNEMIS SYSTEM]

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

[MISSION: Seek retribution]

[REWARD: …]

[FAILURE: Death]

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

I stared at the glowing words. I reached out to touch the screen but my hand passed through it.

“This isn't real, I’m hallucinating, it must have been from when I hit my head that time, maybe I have a concussion or …”

[THIS IS REAL]

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

[QUEST: Survive the Night]

[OBJECTIVE: Find Shelter before Dawn]

[REWARD: Basic Starter Package]

[TIME REMAINING: 6 hours]

[CURRENT RESOURCES: ₩8000, 1 phone (Low Battery), Clothes]

[AVAILABLE SHELTERS]: Nearby PC Bang (₩5000/Night), Street: Free, Jjimjilbang (₩12000/Night)

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

[WARNING: Sleeping on the street will cause severe damage to mental health]

“Severe damage?”

[YOU ALMOST JUMPED]

My hands tightened at the railing. What was I doing? Was I really going to end it all?

[I WILL ASK AGAIN. DO YOU WANT TO LIVE?]

The question hung in the air as I thought of everything.

My mother's photo, thrown in the trash like nothing, my father's cold and indifferent eyes, the way Han Ji-seok and Han Yeon-seo have treated me.

I couldn't let them have their happy ever after. No. Not after what they've done.

“Yes. I want to live”

[QUEST ACCEPTED: Where do you wish to spend the night?]

I needed to save money. “The PC Bang”.

[ PC BANG: 1.2KM]

[ESTIMATED ARRIVAL: 18 Minutes]

A path lit up on the screen. A glowing line leading the way to the PC bang.

[RECOMMENDATION: Begin walking]

“Shit”

I started walking.