Dream Breaker

Choi Kang-min's past was not a great story with the fate of the world and humanity at stake.

On the contrary, was it trivial?

However, the parents' feelings were different.

“When he was in elementary school, Kang Hoon was often teased for being like a girl.”

“I know.”

I protected him every time!

“Don’t you think that's strange?”

“Huh?”

Strange?

"Although there are individual differences, that age is before the second growth period when gender characteristics become more distinct. There are many boys who are like girls, and girls who are like boys.”

“...Now that I hear it, you're right.”

"But Kang-hoon was the only one who was teased for being like a girl. Why? Because of a bad personality? An ugly face? No parents?"

“......”

Choi Kang Hoon didn't fit any of those descriptions.

The opposite!

The reason why Choi Kang Hoon was popular among female students in high school was not because he became more manly.

He didn't change.

'Really, why?'

I hadn't thought deeply about it since it was already in the past. But looking back, it was really strange.

“It was all Kang Min's doing. He asked them to bully his brother.”

“......”

The content was so shocking that I lost my words.

"He bribed the children around him with money to encourage them to tease."

“...Does Kang Hoon know?”

“He doesn’t know. If he knew, he would have wished his brother to die like this.”

“Well…”

But Choi Kang Hoon didn't give up hope and asked me for a favor.

To treat his brother.

“It was something that would have been easily caught if investigated a little, but I silenced all those kids with money.”

“Why did you do that?”

“It's a small desire of a parent. I wanted the siblings to get along.”

“Ah…”

I understood it in my head. My heart refused to accept it, though.

“Sir-”

“Kang Min lost his mother early in a traffic accident.”

“......”

“And as soon as the funeral was over, I brought in my current wife, who was working as a housekeeper at the time.”

“...You made a mistake.”

“You will understand this old man's feelings when the day comes for you to love someone too! Anyway, because of that, Kang Min always has a debt in his heart.”

“So you let it slide.”

“Right.”

It was a story about sympathizing with the eldest son who couldn't receive his birth mother's love.

"Is that all?"

"What?"

"Everyone makes mistakes when they're young. It's a problem if they don't change even after they become adults."

I don't intend to justify or defend Choi Kang-min's actions, but this alone seems less persuasive.

"What if he had hired local gangsters with money when he was young?"

"......"

"As you protected Kang Hoon, it became harder for him to be bullied by kids, so Kang Min came up with this method."

"That's... a bit extreme."

It went far beyond the level that could be forgiven for being young!

"He even mentioned the company shares and asked for a sure disposal."

"Crazy!"

An elementary school student said something that even adults would have trouble saying?

That's insane.

"As you may have already noticed, Kang Min's plan didn't come to fruition."

"You stopped it."

"Yes."

"Phew..."

I sighed with relief, brushing off my almost sinking heart.

What if it hadn't been stopped beforehand?

Both I, who had been protecting Choi Kang Hoon, and he himself would have been in danger as targets of the thugs.

"Come to think of it, that's right."

"What is?"

"It's about the time when Kang Min collapsed. It was the day he realized that I had found out everything."

"Ah!"

The cause and effect fit perfectly.

Did he have the same thoughts as me? The old man smiled bitterly.

"Maybe Kang Min's incurable disease is an escape from reality."

Escape from reality.

Like a politician who vehemently denied criminal suspicions until evidence came out and then fled abroad with all his assets.

Choi Kang Min escaped to the world of dreams.

"That's why I need your help, sir."

"How can I help you?"

"Personal information that makes Choi Kang Min think he can only consider that place as a dream."

"Hmm..."

"Don't you have any?"

"I think I'll need time to sort it out since there's too much. Even more if you took over my company. There are especially many secrets that only the CEO knows."

"Oh!"

A deadly dagger to defeat the magic boy was stacked up.

* * *

The new semester began.

Many freshmen with talent in sports flocked to the sports university, and students who couldn't find a room to rent or had homes far away headed to the dormitory.

'It's nice to have it all to myself!'

But thanks to the swimming coach's wicked(?) scheme, I won the bet during the competition and ended up monopolizing the two-person dormitory.

If I had shared it with someone, my satisfaction would have been much higher, but the only flaw is that since I was alone during the whole vacation, I feel strongly that I protected my 'own house'.

And the way people around me looked at me changed.

"......"

"......"

I was treated like a nobody before, am I now somewhat admired?

It's thanks to showing a decent record in the last competition.

Swimming is all about records.

In games like soccer or taekwondo, the outcome may change depending on the opponent, but in swimming, you don't get faster or slower depending on who you're competing with.

Athletes with worse records in the same event can't help but feel nervous.

That goes for,

"That athlete..."

"Not even talented..."

The same goes for the coaches who guide those players.

For a coach to be recognized, their athlete must achieve outstanding results in official competitions. The emergence of a competitor is inevitably unsettling.

'Everyone! Don't worry!'

I'm planning to retire as soon as I find a decent job.

My aptitude is not for a 'swimming athlete'. I may shine briefly in the lower ranks, but eventually, I will be overtaken due to my lack of potential.

"Coach."

"Do you need more beef?"

I could tell how the coach thought of me.

Aren't you ignoring me too much? Just say one thing.

"It would be nice if you could treat me."

If it's like this, please ignore me even more!

"Ha ha! I'll set up another match soon!"

"......"

He doesn't seem to have the intention of treating me to beef for free.

"What's the matter? You look like you're going to ask for a favor."

"You're right."

Is it because his aptitude is for a 'coach'? Even though we haven't been together for several months, he knew too much about me.

"Tell me."

"I want to take a few days off."

"A few days? Vacation- No, you mean you need a break?"

"Yes."

"It depends on where, how, and how long you're taking a break. This is not a school where students' autonomy is guaranteed."

"Ah!"

I was mistaken because there were no teachers interfering with students' vacations and weekends.

'Right! I was an athlete!'

Not a student, but a full-fledged office worker!

And the man in front of me is a sports coach, not a school teacher.

Someone who has the right to monitor and discipline athletes to prevent them from becoming lazy.

This also includes actions like alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, and gambling that negatively affect an athlete's performance.

"I'm not taking a break to have fun. I'm going to the hospital."

"Hospital? What's hurting?"

The coach's relaxed expression suddenly became serious.

'I need to choose my words carefully.'

This is important from here on.

To wake up Choi Kang-min, I had to enter his dream.

Here's the problem.

Since I'm also a full-fledged office worker, I have to come here on weekdays. I can't stay in the dream for too long.

"I have a special constitution."

"A rare disease?"

"No, it's not."

"Then, is it because of the ghost that appeared in Yoo Il-am's broadcast?"

"...It's related to that."

I was surprised.

'I never mentioned it.'

The coach, who read my expression, answered as if it was ridiculous.

"Kang Moon-soo. Did you think I wouldn't know anything? Listen well. It's not just me. A coach must know everything about their athlete."

"Ah..."

"It would be better to know more this time. Submit the contact information of the doctor in charge of you and the diagnosis. Then, I'll let you have a break."

"Yes."

There was a condition attached, but I was relieved to hear that he would allow me to take a break.

What if the coach had said no?

Just thinking about it made my head hurt.

"Hey! You should tell me the most important thing. From when and for how many days are you going to rest?"

"Probably... about 3 days. Anytime is fine as long as it includes a weekend. The sooner, the better."

3 days.

In a dream where time flows about 3 times faster, it's equivalent to 9 days.

I took enough vacation time to avoid rushing and messing up the task.

"Then take a break right away."

"Huh? But..."

"It's okay. There are plenty of people to use the pool when we give it up."

"......"

"What?"

"Thank you."

"If you know, come back healthy. Make sure to run every morning so your body doesn't stiffen."

"Well... I'll try."

It seems difficult to keep up as I plan to lie down on the bed all the time.

'Great.'

With this, all preparations are complete.

* * *

"Don't worry. I sent you a medical certificate with plausible professional terms on your cell phone."

Upon hearing my story, Manager Seo Hye-joo quickly pushed forward, putting aside all her scheduled tasks.

"Thank you. If the coach contacts you, please take care of it."

"As I said before, convincing patients and guardians is a basic skill for a doctor."

"I know. Still, please take care of it. It's my lifeline."

"Swimming athlete? Excuse me, but it doesn't suit you at all."

"That's really rude!"

We exchanged jokes as we moved to the place where Choi Kang-min was lying down.

Room 1906?

No.

This is the vice-president's office of Elmorangs Hospital, temporarily rented for today!

It's a place chosen considering that when I enter the dream, I move to the same location as in reality.

Beside 'Vice-President Seo Hye-joo.

In other words, a safe zone.

"Kang Moon-soo. Please say hello to me in the dream as well."

"Yes."

"But just saying that would be boring, right? Please deliver this letter to me 20 years in the future."

"...You've prepared a lot."

"Of course! It's a rare experience!"

A rare experience.

I completely agree with that.

I approached Choi Kang-min, surrounded by numerous medical devices that prolong the lives of patients.

"Hey."

"......"

He, who was captivated by the fantasy of being a Magical boy, didn't respond even when called.

'Choi Kang-min. Stay still and wait.'

I'm coming for you!

"Kang Moon-soo. It's the most important thing, can you do it?"

"Of course."

I've never intentionally entered someone else's dream by my will, not by chance.

Is it possible?

There were no doubts or worries. I instinctively had a vague conviction that it would definitely work.

"Phew..."

But since it was my first time, I couldn't help but be nervous.

"Lie down on the bed next to you."

"Yes."

If I lose consciousness and hit my head on the floor or something, it wouldn't be good.

After changing into comfortable patient clothes, I lay down next to Choi Kang-min in a proper posture.

"...Doctor, what are you doing?"

She started to skillfully attach various medical devices to my body.

"I'm measuring the physical changes of Kang Moon-soo as he enters someone else's dream."

"Ah, yes."

Although it wasn't agreed upon beforehand, I didn't stop her as it was a minor matter.

What's important now?

It's Choi Kang-min.

If time goes on like this, he will face a happy death while being immersed in the Magical Boy.

'I can't let that happen!'

I really want to see him realizing that the Magical Boy is a product of delusion and despair.

"Let's go!"

I grabbed Choi Kang-min's hand, which was as dry and thin as a rotten old tree.

No matter how hard I struggle, I can't physically match the Magical Boy.

So,

'Choi Kang-min. Your eyes will open wide.'

I'll hit you with the facts, fair and square!

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