Chapter 12: Ants Today – 2

Convenience store front table.

I devoured the cup noodles and hot bar in an instant.

Time had completely turned to night, with darkness settling in.

The shabby convenience store, where no one came, was eerily quiet.

“…”

But I couldn’t bring myself to leave. 

Just sitting there, holding a 2-liter water bottle in one hand, tapping the sticky, cheap outdoor table to pass the time.

The headlight in my hand created a beat.

Tap

Tap

Tap

To the rhythm of that beat,

The sound of dancing echoed from behind.

“…”

—One, two… three…. Turn. One, two….

Let me correct that.

Actually, I was tapping along to the music she had playing. 

After listening for 30 minutes straight, I’d unconsciously started matching the rhythm.

“…Sigh.”

Eventually, I glanced back.

—One, two, three… back to one…!

There, a part-timer in a baseball cap was practicing dance moves, her yellow hair swaying. 

She’d been eyeing me while I ate my noodles, and once I finished, she stepped out from behind the counter to start her routine.

Her voice was familiar.

—Welcome!

—Thank you!

—Do you… need a bag?

—Ah, eating here? I’ll bring it to you!

Exactly four lines.

Spreading red pills with just four lines—that was a skill in itself.

‘No matter how I look at it, that’s Aki-chan… Does she even intend to hide it?’

Of course, the real her was different from her VTuber avatar. 

Surprisingly, her features were similar, but in reality, her face carried exhaustion, boredom, and a quiet stillness.

“…”

But it was obvious.

That person was Aki-chan.

‘Matching her hair color in real life to her VTuber persona is kind of insane.’

—Huu…!

“!”

Her practice session ended briefly.

I quickly turned my head back. 

Absent mindedly, I chugged the 2-liter water bottle in my hand. 

With my other hand, I tapped the table with the headlight.

Tap, tap

Tap

Tap, tap….

“…”

With the music gone, the beat became erratic.

And so did my thoughts.

“…”

100 million won.

I’d donated 100 million won.

Of course, I wasn’t naive enough to think all that money went straight to Aki-chan. 

After the company and taxes took their cuts, she’d probably be left with around 200 million won.

‘And judging by the circumstances, it seems like some of the money went back to the company, so she probably didn’t even get the full 200 million….’

At best, she might’ve kept 100 million won.

On top of that, for over ten days, I’d donated 250,000 won daily. 

Even at the lowest estimate, she’d have made around 7 to 9 million won.

No matter how low I estimated,

it wasn’t money she’d struggle to live on.

“…”

Yet, here she was, working part-time.

A young woman alone, manning a deserted convenience store at night. 

Using her free time to tirelessly practice, investing in herself.

Twinkling, like a star that never stopped shining.

“…”

It had only been about 30 minutes.

But that was more than enough to understand what her life was like.

And that fact left me with an odd discomfort.

‘With the money she has now, couldn’t she… take it a little easier?’

I grew curious about her story.

Why was she burning herself out like this, like a fool…?

‘What kind of life is this person living?’

At that moment,

An old man from the park came to mind.

The one who’d gazed wistfully at the girl on his phone.

A thick, swirling regret, deep as an abyss.

The kind of emotion you’d find anywhere.

“…”

I’d kept my distance from that emotion. 

To avoid being sucked into that whirlpool, to ensure it didn’t interfere with the regression…

I had to separate the emotions I’d carry with me.

‘After all, all emotions reset. If I hold onto something too big, I’ll only end up hurting myself.’

But now,

A yellow starlight was twinkling behind me. 

I’d captured that foolish sparkle in my eyes.

I’d gotten too close.

Wouldn’t it be better if she escaped this absurdity…?

I’d started thinking that way.

Even if I watched her streams,

This shabby convenience store would come to mind.

“…”

Tap

Tap

Tap, tap….

“…”

Tap, tap….

‘Should I just ignore it?’

Leave this run-down convenience store behind, forget everything, and become [Big Man] again. 

Then cheer for ABCD as they successfully debut in 3D.

‘That alone would be enough for them—those girls who were on the verge of giving up.’

It had always been that way until now.

My eternal 92 days were too short to witness someone’s success and happiness.

So I should ignore it.

“…”

I turned on the headlight in my hand.

Thud!

The dead in eternity

must return to the darkness.

Just as I was about to get up,

The yellow starlight beside me grabbed me.

“Um….”

“!”

I turned.

With a worried expression,

She handed me a yellow handkerchief.

“You’ve seemed uneasy for a while now… sweating cold sweat and all.”

“…”

“Are you okay?”

“…”

I absentmindedly looked at it.

Ah…

Too late.

And then, without thinking, I asked her:

“…Isn’t it hard?”

“Huh?”

“Life… isn’t it hard?”

“…?”

“Struggling all alone where no one notices… isn’t it sad and exhausting? How can you keep fighting like that?”

“…”

“Can’t you take it easy, relax a little?”

“…”

She hesitated for a moment.

Seemed flustered by the sudden question.

And then,

With the handkerchief in her hand,

She wiped the sweat from my forehead.

Smiling calmly, she said:

“I’m okay.”

“…Why?”

“Because I’m happy.”

“…Why?”

“Everything I do is for my dream. And there are people like you who notice my struggles. Lately, things have been shaky, but I still have this laid-back part-time job….”

“…”

She rummaged through her pocket. 

Pulled out a crumpled 10,000-won bill. 

Warmly pressed it into my hand.

“Here, take it. I’ll cover the noodles.”

“…Why?”

“You looked like you were struggling….”

“…”

I stared blankly at the money.

She smiled brightly and headed back to the store.

“Well, I’ll get back to work. Hang in there.”

“…”

Her yellow hair swayed.

Under the glow of my headlight, it shimmered.

Watching her, I spoke:

“…Your name.”

“Huh?”

“What’s your name?”

“…”

After a brief pause, she answered.

“Lee A-young.”

“…”

Like a fool,

A-young smiled innocently.

Revealing the sincerity behind her persona.

“I’m an idol trainee.”

“…”

“And you?”

“Bi….”

“Bi?”

“…”

Hesitating, I answered.

During the regression,

A real name I’d never revealed to anyone.

My actual name.

“Seonwoo Taek.”

“Wootaek?”

“No.”

“?”

“My surname is ‘Seonwoo,’ and my name is ‘Taek.’”

“O-oh, that’s unique….”

A familiar pattern.

One I’d repeated countless times before the regression began.

A name no one called me anymore.

A-young said to me:

“Taek, hang in there!”

“…Yeah.”

And then she left.

“…”

I stood there, dazed.

In my hands were the 10,000-won bill and the headlight.

“…”

The headlight’s beam now shimmered toward the shabby convenience store.

Today, Seonwoo Taek received a 10,000-won donation from part-timer Lee A-young. 

She had no idea I was [Big Man]—she’d simply shown me kindness.

Beyond the screen,

sincerity had returned.

After dozens, hundreds… countless regressions.

“…”

I realized.

The moment I took that 10,000 won, curiosity turned into sincerity.

I couldn’t just reset the regression and move on, ignoring A-young’s struggles. 

I had to repay what I’d received before I could end the cycle.

I’d found a dream I wanted to see through.

‘But by July 31st….’

Eternal 92 days were too short to witness someone’s success.

“…”

I clenched the 10,000-won bill tightly.

“…!”

But.

Money could pull dreams closer.

Make them shine as brightly as possible.

“!”

I had money.

Within these eternal 92 days, I was invincible.

Stocks and investments grew effortlessly.

‘…I am [Big Man].’

I quietly resolved.

Time remaining: 80 days.

Remaining assets: 7.1 billion won.

This would be enough.

‘First, I’ll repay that 10,000 won.’

I had to return

what I’d received to settle my conscience.

—”Shining like a star in your heart! Idol hopeful Aki-chan here—!”

“…Then.”

I’ll make you an idol.

No longer a game—this was a promise.

‘First, what I need to do….’

“…”

I looked at the shabby convenience store sign. 

The building, long neglected, was covered in dust. 

A “For Lease” banner hung in the window.

“…”

Just standing there was exhausting.

‘First, I’ll make the stage beneath her feet comfortable.’

*

The following Monday.

At the real estate office, I said:

“I’ll give you 300 million won. I’m buying this convenience store.”

“W-what?! T-this place?!”

“Plus 600 million more. I’ll take the building too. Condition doesn’t matter—I’ll renovate it.”

“W-whaaat?!”

They froze for a moment before hurriedly nodding. 

A madman offering a fair price for this worthless property wouldn’t come around again.

After signing the contract,

the former owner asked:

“W-what about the part-timer? There’s just one girl who works weekend nights… Since it’s so slow, I handle weekdays.”

“…Keep her. Just let her know the owner changed.”

“O-okay…”

I packed the contract and documents into my briefcase and left.

‘The interior company that helped me during the “Earthly Paradise Apartment” playthrough in mid-May….’

“!”

I remembered.

There was a company with availability right now.

I called them.

“Hello, I need urgent construction done. Within a week. Actually…”

I already had the estimate and plan in mind.

I offered a hefty bonus for the rush job.

‘Turning this convenience store from a place of survival to one of comfort….’

“…”

Red pills and blue pills had to be separated.

Donating 100 million won was easy,

but a single 10,000-won bill in my pocket weighed heavily.

First,

I’d create a place for her.

And as for how to shorten time…

I knew better than anyone.

*

Friday again.

After finishing her afternoon stream, Aki sighed.

“…Sigh.”

Last Friday,

It felt like everything in the world would go her way.

But things kept going wrong.

—”Live Future is being a pain trying to lock down Big Man… Thankfully, things worked out, so we should be able to announce the platform switch by next week.”

The platform switch announcement was delayed.

—”A-young? Um… someone bought the convenience store, so I’ll be stepping down. Just keep working your usual hours—the new owner will handle it.”

The convenience store owner had changed.

Creak, creak.

Things kept changing.

The only thing that stayed the same…

【‘Big123456Man’ has donated 2.5 million won!】  

“…Pfft.”

Remembering that ridiculous alt account,

Aki’s lips curled into a natural smile.

“…Time for work.”

As always, she passed Han River Park and headed to the shabby convenience store in the corner. 

But the closer she got, the more something felt off.

“Huh?”

It was clean.

The store looked brand new.

The eerie atmosphere was gone, replaced by a freshly built appearance. 

CCTV cameras were everywhere, adding to the security.

‘I heard only the owner changed…?’

Timidly, she opened the door.

“H-hello…?”

“Welcome.”

“!”

A young man’s voice came from inside.

A guy in his mid-20s was casually organizing the store. 

His back looked familiar.

“…Who are you?”

“…”

He turned.

A familiar face.

Aki’s eyes widened.

“Ah…! Last week! The shiny head!”

“I don’t have baldness.”

“N-no, that’s not…! Taek!”

“I’m not a taxi.”

“T-that’s…”

The man chuckled and approached.

Then offered a handshake.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Seonwoo Taek, the new owner.”

“!”

“Call me ‘Boss’ from now on.”

SeonwooTaek said:

“Let’s work well together. ‘A-young.’”

“…!”

‘Lee A-young’ replied:

“Nice to meet you. …Boss.”

A large hand and a small one.

Beyond the screen…

They firmly held each other.