Report
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Griffin Scans
Translator – Hero of death
Proofreader – Sleepyhead
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Chapter 6 - June 12, 1985
"Monthly rental available."
The crude sign, written on a piece of plywood propped against a utility pole with even an old rubber basin lid pressed to keep it tightly made it clear that the landlord had no desire to go through a real estate agent.
Then again, such houses were common in the 80s.
Taejun, standing absentmindedly with a duffel slung over one shoulder, stared at the sign—
“Hey there! You, the soldier boy!”
A woman’s voice rang out from somewhere. As Taejun looked around, he spotted a middle-aged woman waving at him from the stairwell of a multi-family home just beyond a low wall across the empty lot.
“Here, over here.”
“Me?”
“Well, who else would I be talking to? You’re the only one here.”
“I suppose that’s true. What can I do for you?”
“You looking for a place to stay?”
“Yes… Did you post this?”
“Huh? Oh, no, that’s not my place. But I happen to have a room available at my house. You interested?”
Taejun hesitated. With the budget he had, he could probably afford a lease deposit of two to three million won. A slightly bigger space would be useful if he wanted to keep working on his toy designs.
“I'll give you a good deal. Just had the wall repainted and It’s clean too.”
“Well, I do a lot of work at night, so I’d prefer not to be right next to the landlord’s quarters...”
“Oh! Even better then!”
“Excuse me?”
“The room I’m renting is on the rooftop.”
“A rooftop room…?”
“Come take a look. It’s really something. If you don’t like it after seeing it, no hard feelings.”
Her offer was sudden, but Taejun figured he had nothing to lose. He turned to the corner and stepped through the gate.
Unlike modern villas with interior staircases, this was an old-school multi-unit dwelling where you climbed exterior stairs floor by floor.
The landlady had already come down to meet him. Her face lit up with a broad smile the moment she saw him.
“My, my~ Up close you’re even more handsome and tall than I thought!”
Trying to win him over, she didn’t hold back on the flattery.
Though nearly forty in 2017, Taejun couldn’t help but feel a bit flattered to hear such compliments for the first time in ages.
“Could I see the room?”
“Oh, I just finished cleaning it. It’s spotless, I promise you’ll love it.”
The landlady, now speaking comfortably as if they were old friends, beckoned him up the stairs.
Her warm, easy manner brought a smile to Taejun’s lips as he followed her.
“The basement and second floors are rented out in pairs. My family lives on the third. We only go up to the roof to grab some fermented kimchi or laundry, so you won’t have to worry about interruptions.”
They were halfway up when a loud female voice suddenly rang out.
“Get out! Right now!”
Startled, Taejun paused. But the landlady just shook her head with a click of her tongue, clearly used to such scenes.
“Tsk, tsk… At it again. Don’t worry, she’s not yelling at you.”
“Wh-what’s going on?”
“Just wait. You’ll see.”
Moments later, something shattered inside, and a man in nothing but underwear came stumbling out the front door.
“Oh dear…”
Even the landlady seemed taken aback this time, covering her face with her hand.
The man flustered, knocked frantically on the door.
“Honey! At least toss me some clothes! The landlady’s out here, for God’s sake!”
A small window opened, and a worn-out tracksuit came flying out.
“Th-thank you…”
As he fumbled into the sweats, the landlady turned back toward the stairs, shaking her head.
“Sorry you had to see that. Hope it didn’t scare you too much.”
Adjusting his glasses, the man gave Taejun an embarrassed grin. Taejun returned a polite, awkward smile.
“Soldier boy~ you coming or what?”
The landlady’s voice called from the stairwell. With a nod to the man, Taejun continued on.
A wife with a temper like that… Getting thrown out in just his underwear? Must be rough…
At the rooftop, a surprisingly spacious area greeted them.
Hey now, this is better than I expected.
The landlady kept her rooftop clean—rows of neatly arranged crocks for fermented sauces, a swept and tidy floor. The room itself wasn’t large, but the outdoor space was more than enough for painting or project work.
“What do you think? Not bad, huh?”
She beamed as she watched his reaction. Despite his youthful appearance, Taejun—nearing forty inside—cleared his throat and composed himself.
“Could I see the room?”
“Oh please, the room’s great. You’re a picky one, aren’t you?”
She unlocked the door and opened it, revealing a tiny kitchen fitted with a single-burner stove, and one attached room.
It was just the right size for a man living alone.
A pink nylon zip-up wardrobe with floral patterns stood in one corner, and a worn fold-out wall hanger clung to the wall.
It felt like a countryside motel room.
“There’s even a washing machine the last tenant left behind. Pretty sweet deal, right?”
She looked to confirm his interest. Taejun nodded.
“Not bad. What’s the monthly rent?”
“It’s a monthly lease, so you decide how long. 30,000 won a month. What do you say?”
30,000 won... Considering this was 1985, that seemed fair.
But as he looked around, Taejun suddenly realized something critical was missing.
“Excuse me…”
“Yes?”
“Where’s the bathroom?”
The landlady hesitated.
“Oh… the bathroom.”
“Yes, I’d say that’s kind of essential.”
“Of course, of course. It’s important…”
“Wait—don’t tell me. There is a bathroom, right?”
“There is. It’s just… a little far.”
“Far?”
“There’s a shared one downstairs, used by the basement units.”
“What!?”
So he’d have to climb three flights of stairs every time he needed to go?
Taejun slung his duffel back over his shoulder.
“The room’s great, but that’s a deal-breaker. Thanks for showing me, though.”
“Wait! I’ll drop it to 25,000!”
A 5,000 won cut just like that. But still hesitant, he turned to leave.
“20,000!!!”
That got his attention. For 20,000 won a month, it was hard to say no.
After all, he needed to save money. Unlike protagonists in game-market stories staying in luxury hotels, he was starting from scratch.
A rooftop room with privacy, no nosy landlords, and ample space—any similar spot would have the same bathroom issue. Trying not to laugh, he nodded.
“Alright. Just for three months.”
“Good, good! Smart move. You got a steal, kid. I’m giving you this price 'cause you remind me of my own son.”
Taejun paid the 60,000 won for three months in cash and dropped his duffel on a wooden platform at the edge of the roof.
The landlady headed back down to fetch the contract and bring him the keys.
“Whew… Time’s flown already.”
The sun was beginning to set behind the modest hills of this small Seoul neighborhood. He reached into his pocket for a cigarette—only to remember he had no lighter.
“Oh, right. The lighter…”
Just then—
“Excuse me, young man.”
“Huh?”
Peering up from the stairwell was the man from earlier, now in that same blue tracksuit.
“Mind if I bum a smoke?”
He was scrawny, with thick-rimmed glasses that kept sliding down his nose.
“I’ve got smokes, but no light…”
“No problem! I’ve got fire!”
He chuckled at his own pun.
Without waiting, he ran over, pulled out a matchbox, and struck a match.
“You’ve got the cigarette, I’ve got the fire—how about we share a sunset smoke, forge a brotherhood of ash?”
“A… brotherhood of ash?”
Taejun handed him a cigarette, not quite sure what to say.
“Thanks, I’ll enjoy this.”
The man took a deep drag, lips puckered tight. He lit Taejun’s as well with the match’s dying flame.
“Here ya go~”
Taejun took a puff—then choked violently.
“Cough! Hack! Cough!”
“What’s this? First time smoking?”
Of course not. Back in 2017, Taejun had smoked a pack a day. But it felt just like his very first cigarette.
Could it be… this new body—this young body—hasn’t developed the habit yet?
Taejun dropped the cigarette and crushed it underfoot.
“What a waste of a fresh one…”
“I don’t think I’m suited for smoking. Here, take the rest.”
“Two whole packs!? For me?”
The man lit up with glee. He bounced on the platform like a child.
Taejun smiled, thinking maybe this was for the best.
Maybe not smoking at all is better…
The man blew smoke into the evening sky and turned to him.
“Army fatigues, huh? You just got discharged?”
“Something like that.”
“Still can’t believe you’re a civilian, huh?”
“Yeah… Something like that.”
“Don’t worry, I get it. I’ve been there. Now it’s all about reserve duty drills!”
Right. Reserve duty. That hadn’t even crossed Taejun’s mind.
Apparently thrilled with his two-pack windfall, the man cheerfully patted Taejun on the back.
“So what do you do, Mister?”
“Me?”
“Looked like your wife was real mad back there…”
“My wife? Don’t worry about her. This isn’t new.”
Wait, so he gets thrown out in his underwear regularly?
Taejun noticed the man exuded the weary aroma of a struggling artist.
Let’s see… In the 1980s, if your wife constantly berated you, that usually meant—
“I’m a cartoonist.”
Of course he is.
Before Taejun could respond, the same sharp voice boomed from below.
“You worthless man! Can’t even stay out a minute! Hwang Dongbong! Aren’t you coming down for dinner!?”
“Pfft!”
The name Hwang Dongbong hit Taejun with such nostalgic absurdity he burst into laughter.
“S-sorry, I didn’t mean to…”
“My wife’s voice is that funny, huh? Don’t worry, I get it.”
With a deep breath, the man put out his cigarette, patted Taejun on the shoulder, and started for the stairs.
“We’ll finish our man-to-man talk later. Time for dinner.”
“Sure… Go ahead.”
“Pleasure meeting you. Bye-bye~ Ppyong!”
“Ppyong…?”
As the man disappeared, the landlady returned with the handwritten lease agreement.
“Ugh… Look at him. Just got thrown out in his underwear, and now he’s running for dinner like a happy puppy. No shame, honestly…”
And just like that, with a stamp on a handwritten contract and no broker’s fee, Taejun had a place to stay.
~~~~~~~~~~~Chapter End~~~~~~~~~~~~
