“Telecom... huh.”
Seo Ji-yeon tilted her head for a moment, then nodded like she’d figured something out.
“That’s a very you kind of move, Miss. So you’ve finally decided to become a big sister, huh?”
“...It’s not like that, okay?”
Sure, having the entire country’s personal data in the palm of my hand had all sorts of useful applications—and matched my tastes quite well—but that wasn’t the only reason.
“Platform businesses like this heavily favor whoever establishes themselves first. Sure, it’s got the downside of needing a ton of capital at the start... but for me, that’s actually an upside.”
Calling the initial costs a downside—what a joke.
To me, that’s not even funny. (Actually, it’s kind of funny.)
“Well, yeah. But isn’t that a monopoly?”
“Cutthroat competition isn’t a monopoly. It’s fine to intentionally tank margins or pull some dirty tricks. And besides, there’ll be plenty of competitors in the beginning.”
I’m not dumb—I’m not going to shy away from competition right out of the gate. I have absolute confidence in reclaiming the number-one telecom spot in Korea by skill alone.
Of course, normally the government would step in at some point...
“I already talked to DJ’s camp ahead of the election. Right now, the single most important issue in Korean politics is obviously economic recovery. The side I bankroll will win. And if I’m pouring over a billion dollars into Korea, no way the government won’t give up a measly telecom license.”
At least in 21st-century Korean politics, conservatives traditionally favor chaebols and liberals oppose them. So under normal circumstances, I would’ve taken the opposite side... but things are a bit different now.
“So your goal is to take over Korea entirely, and to do that, you’ll eventually have to consolidate everything regardless of ideology?”
“Yup. Anyone who stands against me needs to be weeded out early. Of course, I’m too noble to get directly involved in politics, so someone else will do the dirty work. I don’t like being hated.”
— Tap tap.
Blatantly telling her to play the scapegoat, but Seo Ji-yeon nodded without protest.
“Yes, I’ll do that.”
God doesn’t engage in politics. She simply enforces her will.
Politics is just a power struggle between equals—that’s why.
Thailand’s philosopher-king, the Thai monarch, doesn’t intervene in domestic politics yet wields immense ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) influence. So much so that a single word like “you shouldn’t do that” can bring down a military junta leader who seized power in a coup.
So I, too, must not and need not directly involve myself in politics. All I need is a messenger to represent my views, and an overwhelming war chest.
“Thankfully, since the dotcom bubble burst early this time, our domestic IT companies didn’t take much damage. It popped before it even started. That means I can shape the market into a nice gradual uptrend, and you, Ji-yeon, can make a public investment declaration through BS Investment.”
You can’t get entangled in politics directly, but you still need to signal favorable investments to voters without being too obvious... and that’s not as easy as it sounds. That’s why I need BS Investment to handle things on my behalf.
“Ah, right. That makes sense. BS Investment’s Seoul branch has gotten pretty influential now, so it should be able to get involved politically.”
BS Investment Seoul—BSS, for short...
Ugh, whoever came up with that name had zero taste.
— Clatter.
As I was putting away cooking tools while thinking dumb thoughts, I glanced to the side at Cha Ba-da, who was blinking blankly.
“So, Ba-da. I’ve got a proposal for you... want to hear it?”
“What is it?”
“Come work under me. You’re close with Cha Sang-hyun, right? I’ll make sure he gets backed properly—just swear loyalty.”
“...”
A blatant offer of political-business collusion.
Considering Cha Sang-hyun was occasionally floated as a future presidential candidate, it was the kind of comment that could get you arrested. Especially since he was technically Mirae Group.
But Ba-da didn’t outright reject me. Because we were fairly close—and she had ambition.
“...Um. Do people normally say that sort of thing dressed like that?”
...Maybe we’re not that close after all?
The apron I had tailored for cosplay wasn’t overly flashy or plain—it was a very sophisticated design.
It was barely an apron—more like a dress, really...
“Ha, do you know how much this cost?”
“No idea. But I do know you’re a pervert who doesn’t wear underwear.”
With a faraway look in her eyes, Ba-da stared me up and down like she couldn’t process reality and muttered insults. Can friends talk like this? I’m on the verge of becoming Korea’s ruler, you know?
“See? I told you Miss is the weird one! At the very least, could you please wear panties and a bra? Every time this happens, I’m the one who gets embarrassed!”
Seo Ji-yeon nodded emphatically, siding with the insult. Unbelievable.
“Underwear messes up the look. It’s like wearing socks with sandals.”
“...In your worldview, that somehow makes sense. Fascinating.”
“Sighhh.”
Their sighs were synchronized like they’d rehearsed it, like they were resigning themselves to my nonsense. Ba-da looked at me like I was some alien creature.
“Hmph, I bet the boys would get it. Subtle glimpses like that are what gets them going. Go ask the boys in student council.”
“Over my dead body!”
— Splat!
“Kyah!”
Seo Ji-yeon screamed as a packet of curry powder I threw hit her.
“Whoops, dirt got in your eye.”
“...No, wait...”
“Did it not?”
— Swish swish.
“I-It did!”
“Good girl.”
Headpat headpat.
Even this, Seo Ji-yeon no longer resisted seriously. She’d adapted to my taste.
“You see that, Ba-da? People are fickle like this.”
The unspoken message: You should cross the line too. Ba-da tightly shut her eyes.
“...”
Seriously, why is she playing so hard to get? Is this what Yahweh felt when Moses asked Him to pick Aaron instead?
“I don’t say this much, but... Ba-da, you do know me, right?”
“...No. Yoo Ha-yeon, I don’t know what kind of person you are at all.”
“Just take what you see at face value. A slightly pervy, insanely competent, ambition-driven, arrogant young lady. That’ll do.”
“That’s... not your true self though, is it? And seriously, calling yourself ‘slightly’ pervy? The fact that you think that’s slight says everything about your morals.”
I let out a soft chuckle.
“Maybe. But like you said, even I don’t know what kind of person I am. So how would you know? There’s no such thing as an essence. Essence doesn’t exist. There’s only phenomenon.”
I get it.
It’s unsettling to sign your life over to someone whose true intentions you can’t read. But... do I really need to bare my soul?
What, should I go cry at my dad’s grave?
I could do that, but my tears are too valuable. It’s not like she’s some genius like Myrian or fiercely loyal like Seo Ji-yeon or Lee Si-hyun.
So just a nice, clean business relationship will suffice.
“Well then...”
— Step.
“Beg this Yoo Ha-yeon, ask me—please help me. Then I will. If you need power, I’ll lend it. If you need advice, I’ll give it. All you have to do is ask.”
Like the whisper of a devil, I murmured softly into her ear.
“I could make you the next chairwoman of Mirae Group. I could even put that Cha Sang-hyun of yours into the presidency. Hell, maybe you could be president yourself in twenty years.”
“...And what do you get? What price do I have to pay?”
“Control over the next president. And it doesn’t even have to be you—as long as whoever ends up controlling Mirae Group falls under me.”
Right now, my influence is huge. But once Korea stabilizes, my power will wane. I’ll lose my justification.
No flower blooms for ten days. No power lasts more than a decade. Even the strongest monopolist can’t wield unchecked power forever.
That’s why I wanted a contract with her.
“Ugh... You really are a devil.”
Ba-da bit her lip.
“But the price I’d be paying... it wouldn’t even be mine. You’re not interested in souls, are you?”
“Nope. Unlike devils, I have no interest in your soul. And be honest—you do want to be chaebol chairwoman, don’t you?”
“...Well, yeah.”
As with most people I set my sights on, she was honest with her desires and ambition.
If she weren’t, she wouldn’t have stepped into politics in the first place. Anyone in politics claiming they’re not greedy is a liar even a dog wouldn’t believe.
***
A few hours later.
After spending quite a while sorting through her thoughts, Ba-da finally seemed to process my outfit. She looked at me with a baffled expression and asked,
“...So wait, you actually went outside dressed like that? Why? Just—why?”
Oh, that.
I pointed to the poster that read [Alumni Visit Event].
“Last year’s grads are about to enlist, right? I figured I’d drop by to give some encouragement. Cheer on the exam kids too.”
“...Ah.”
For once, I’m glad I was born a woman.