I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 1

Finally.

The moment I’d been desperately waiting for had arrived.

All preparations were complete. This was the turning point, the grand shift in my tiresome life.

The moment I gripped this doorknob and pushed open the door. The moment the entrance swung open, I’d hurl the object in my hand at them, spit out my last words, and finally be free.

Free from this godforsaken house.

A sense of liberation, exhilaration, and indescribable anticipation swelled within me as I flung the door open with a resounding bang.

With a dull thud, the front door swung open. It had been a whole week since I last set foot in this place.

Of course, that didn’t mean I felt any particular sentimentality.

My recently dyed pink, wavy hair caught my eye in the hallway mirror, and I almost winced.

“Where the hell have you been wandering for a week, only to show your face now?”

The first to greet me was my second oldest sister, arms crossed, her expression a mask of barely suppressed fury.

She was the type who never found anything to her liking, always ready with a criticism. Now, as a proper university student reveling in her freedom, she seemed to take particular pleasure in giving me a hard time, now that I was finally an adult myself.

And if there was a second oldest sister, it meant there was an eldest. As expected, the oldest person in the house, after our parents, stepped forward to reprimand me.

“Honestly. I know you hate this, but couldn’t you have just tutored our little sister? Don’t you realize that me taking time out of my busy schedule to handle this personally is a loss for the entire family? Especially when I’m about to inherit the family business?”

My eldest sister, on the verge of inheriting our parents' business. She always prioritized family matters, and it seemed my relatively carefree life had been a thorn in her side for as long as I could remember.

And then there was our younger sister, the subject of the tutoring conversation.

“Ugh, this is all your fault! My exams are just around the corner, what am I supposed to do?!”

Out popped the scatterbrained one, with her bleached blonde hair, always more interested in having fun than anything else.

She was four years younger than me, yet she never bothered with formalities, always talking down to me. I'd given up on expecting respect from her a long time ago. Still, her particular brand of neediness and whining never failed to push my buttons.

Even when I did tutor her, she’d whine, asking why I couldn’t explain things in a way she understood, and then run off to complain to Mom, our eldest sister, or our second oldest sister.

As if she actually wanted to study in the first place.

‘There should be one more.’

There was supposed to be another woman who would have rushed out upon hearing of my return.

Though it seemed she wasn’t home at the moment.

‘Not that it matters.’

One less person wouldn’t make a difference. They’d relay the message amongst themselves soon enough.

I pulled a thick envelope out of my pocket and tossed it on the floor.

“Kim Min-hyeok! Are you ignoring us right no─"

“Is that Mom?”

“You little…!”

Thud.

The envelope, pregnant with its unknown contents, hit the floor with a heavy thud.

“Kim Min-hyeok, what do you think you’re doing? After a week of no contact, you come back and the first thing you do is throw a tantrum?”

The eldest was the first to snap, her eyes narrowed.

“What if it hit me? I’m telling Mom you did this!”

The youngest, predictably, threatened to tattle, claiming I’d aimed the envelope near her.

“This little… You’re doing this on purpose because Mom told me not to hit you, right?”

As for the second oldest, well, her expression made it clear that she was a hair's breadth away from physically reprimanding me.

Ignoring the three women’s questions, I turned on my heel.

“I’ve seen enough. I’m leaving. Do whatever you want with the rest.”

“What?! Hey! Kim Min-hyeok!”

“Big sis, what’s wrong with him? Did he eat something bad or something?”

“Ha. We need to move this brick first. This is kind of heavy, ugh. I’ll throw it away.”

“I’m sorry. Let me hear what this is about and give him a good scolding.”

The second oldest went inside to dispose of the ‘trash’ I’d brought into the house, while the eldest started to follow me again.

“Kim Min-hyeok! Where are you going? Come back here. Mom will be home soon.”

“Why should I?”

“After worrying us sick, you're just going to throw trash in the house and leave without a word? Are you kidding me right now?”

Trash. Well, she wasn’t wrong.

To a wealthy family like ours, this much was probably nothing more than garbage.

I should have just cut to the chase from the beginning.

“No need to chase after me. I won’t be coming back this time.”

“What?”

“What are you talking about?”

“What else could it be? I’m leaving home.”

“Gasp.”

The youngest, who had followed me out in her slippers, gasped at my words.

“Ha, you’re out of your mind. You’re really going to run away again without even asking for permission from your family?”

“I’m done talking. It’s a waste of money to keep the taxi waiting.”

“Says the guy who’s worried about wasting taxi fare while running away from home? Whatever. You’ll be back soon enough. You’ll see how long you can last out there without any money, with no experience in the real world. Just you wait. You'll regret this when you crawl back.”

As if. I ignored her scoffs and walked towards the waiting taxi.

“Shall we go?”

“Yes. The destination is─”

Damn it. I'm wasting money. The fare’s gone up again in that short amount of time.

As I got into the taxi, I rolled down the window to deliver one last message.

“I already paid my dues for being raised in this house. You’re the ones who haven’t realized it.”

Vroom—

The taxi sped off, leaving behind the mocking face of my eldest sister, the last image I saw of them before turning my back on them completely.

Yes. I was leaving this house today. The only reason I returned after a week away was to deliver that one line.

It wasn’t that I was particularly attached or anything. It just made me sick to my stomach.

‘Did you ever treat me like family?’

After all the alienation and torment they inflicted upon me, simply because I wasn’t their biological child… Hearing them talk about family now only made my blood boil.

And what was that? Permission? If they really saw me as family, we wouldn’t be talking about ‘permission,’ we’d be having a discussion.

You guys are the worst, until the very end.

From elementary school to middle school and even high school, textbooks always defined ‘family’ in the same way.

Family is an inseparable bond. Like the saying ‘blood is thicker than water,’ it’s the closest and deepest connection one can have.

And there was more. People who would help you through thick and thin. A unit that shares happiness and remains unbroken until the very end.

It wasn't something that could be simply defined; it required paragraphs of explanation, stringing together beautiful metaphors and ideal scenarios.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips as I recalled these definitions now that I was finally outside the confines of that house.

‘What a load of crap.’

No matter how many idyllic phrases or flowery expressions they used, none of it resonated with me.

I still remember it vividly. The way their gazes landed on me when I first stepped into that house. Cold, sharp, piercing.

Those eyes, filled with contempt and disgust, followed me everywhere, ensuring I never felt at ease, not even for a single moment.

Not even in a place that should have been the safest and most comforting—‘home.’

But all that ended today. During my school years, I was powerless, dependent on that house for survival. But now, having finished my college entrance exams, I was no longer helpless.

I’d been working part-time jobs whenever I could, even while focusing on my studies, diligently saving every penny. It was enough to afford a deposit on a small studio apartment.

I’d gained the ability to make my own way in the world.

Yes. This was it. Escape.

I’d finally escaped that dreadful house.

‘Of course, with rent, tuition, and living expenses to cover, I'll have to work even harder at my part-time jobs... but still.’

Just the thought of not having to see their faces was enough to satisfy me. No, it was pure bliss.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn't even realize we'd arrived at my destination.

Pushing aside my complicated emotions, I headed to work, just like any other day.

***

The hours at work flew by. Perhaps because today felt different, I lost track of time as I immersed myself in my tasks.

It wasn’t until a voice informed me that I realized it was closing time.

"Min-hyeok, you're working too hard, aren't you? My goodness. How can you be so oblivious to your own quitting time?"

A middle-aged woman’s sigh reached my ears. It was the owner of the cafe where I worked.

“Is it that late already?”

“Hurry up and finish up. I have to give you something extra for being so hardworking.”

I scratched my head sheepishly and went into the staff room to gather my things.

The owner had already prepared a fragrant meal, its sweet and savory aroma wafting from the kitchen. As I was leaving, the last customer, a friendly woman, stopped me, pressing a small bottle into my hand. It was an energy drink.

“Here you go. You're working so hard, I feel bad that I made you late for your closing time. Haha."

"It's not that late. And it's not your fault…”

"Still. You seemed so busy. You should drink this.”

I tried to refuse, but the owner, emerging from the kitchen, chimed in with a playful scoff, "Just take it!" I had no choice but to accept the drink.

“Have a good night~”

The last customer left with a bright smile.

The owner handed me a bag of food and saw me out, finally closing the cafe for the night. It was then that I realized the day was truly over.

"Time flies, doesn't it?"

It was the first time I felt like time had passed so quickly, even though I had only been working. There were days where I felt like time crawled by. But today, by the time I'd finished cleaning up, the sun had already set, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple.

“Why are you talking about time like an old man? Are you sure we’re the same age?”

“Of course we are, you think I'm younger than you or something?”

“When I checked our school records, my birthday was earlier. That makes me your older sister, doesn’t it?”

“As if.”

Ji-eun, a fellow part-timer, approached me, her words laced with mock annoyance. If I remembered correctly, she was the owner’s niece. I didn’t know the details.

Whatever their relationship, she was a kind soul who I was thankful for. Not only did she get me this part-time job, but she had also patiently taught me everything.

“Sniff, sniff. My aunt must have packed you a feast again. Well, it makes sense, you’re such a hard worker, Min-hyeok.”

“...Isn’t this just average?”

“Ouch. Don't say it like that. It makes me sound like I slack off.”

“Well, you're not wrong. I’d say you should deduct at least one or two hours from your pay for all the time you spend goofing off.”

"Hey! We all need a break now and then. Besides, it’s all relative. You work so intensely that it makes me look like I'm slacking off!”

Ji-eun grumbled, reminding me of the time when I had just started working here.

Come to think of it, she was right. I had never really taken a break.

"Ugh… You're something else.”

“What?”

“It’s nothing.”

My indifferent response caused Ji-eun’s shoulders to slump in defeat. She quickly switched topics.

“Ahem. Anyway, Min-hyeok, did you try it? The thing I sent you?”

“Is that what you wanted to ask?”

“No, well… I was curious how you were doing with it. My progress has been stagnant... Anyway! You were interested, weren’t you? You said you needed the money."

“That’s true, but…”

“Right? Hehe.”

It would be a lie to say I wasn't tempted. The game offered a whopping 50 million won prize to the first person who cleared it.

With that amount, I could live independently for a while without worrying about rent or tuition fees.

However, there was a reason why the reward money was so high.

“I don't think I can beat that game.”

“What, you too?”

“You too? How much did you overestimate me?”

Amongst the vast world of gaming, there were notoriously difficult genres. For example, fighting games, rhythm games, bullet hell games—genres that demanded extreme skill and reflexes.

However, the game Ji-eun introduced wasn't one of them.

It was made using RPG Maker, an outdated engine, and its difficulty stemmed not from complex controls or demanding mechanics, but from its sheer cryptic nature. Glitches and exploits, common in other games, were useless here. Logic seemed to crumble before its enigmatic puzzles.

“It's not just a simple RPG Maker game. I thought the choices were fixed, but even something as small as the time you wake up changes things. It means even the smallest change has an impact.”

“Wow… Doesn't that make the possibilities almost endless?”

“It does. But the scope isn’t always that broad. The game gives you hints along the way.”

“Hmm, the way you’re so sure about all this… You must have figured something out, haven’t you?”

“...Well, there's that.”

“I knew it. You would have figured it out."

She urged me to spill the beans, to tell her how far I had gotten.

Lost in thought, I replayed my attempts in my mind… A tired chuckle escaped my lips.

‘It's obvious, isn’t it?’

That game wasn’t designed to be cleared.

"Don't waste your time and just give up. It’s just designed to mess with people─ Cough, cough!”

The occasional cough I had been experiencing was particularly rough today. As if that wasn’t enough, I felt a wave of nausea rising in my throat.

I coughed violently, my saliva splattering on the ground, the spasms finally subsiding after what felt like an eternity. Ji-eun watched me with worried eyes, offering me a handkerchief. I declined with a shake of my head.

“Are you sure you’re alright? You should go to the emergency room, it's not too late."

“...It’s not that serious. I’m just a little tired today.”

“But still…”

“I'm going to head in and get some rest. I'm not really hungry, so you can have this.”

"Huh? Ah. W-wait, Min-hyeok!"

Her disheartened voice followed me, but I was already too far gone to notice.

The conversation about the game ended abruptly, punctuated by another coughing fit.

Back in my apartment, I reveled in the unfamiliar tranquility. I washed up in cold water, forgoing the luxury of a hot shower, and lay down on the stiff mattress. The silence was a balm to my soul.

My own space. A haven where no one could disturb me.

The fact that I finally had a place to call my own filled me with an unexplainable sense of contentment.

But the quiet didn't last.

Buzz. Buzz.

My phone vibrated on the nightstand. I glanced at it and saw an unknown number. Without much thought, I answered the call.

“Hello? Min-hyeok is that you? Hold on, hold on, just talk to your sister for a second, okay?”

Click.

"Sister? What is she…”

I recognized the voice instantly. It was my second oldest sister.

I had blocked all of their numbers, but my phone was still inundated with messages, missed calls, and notifications.

And yet, the blocked numbers remained blocked. Though it was highly unlikely, it seemed that my dear sister had resorted to calling from different numbers.

I couldn’t fathom why they were trying so desperately to reach me.

‘We’re not even related by blood.’

…Strangely, it brought back memories of that enigmatic game. When I had managed to glean some information about the protagonist’s backstory, it sparked a strange feeling within me.

“I don’t think I have anything scheduled for tomorrow…”

Pop.

I cracked open the energy drink the customer had given me. This should keep me up for a few more hours.

Ignoring the incessant buzzing of my phone, I turned on my computer and launched the game.

[New Game] [Continue] ← [Quit]

The familiar, minimalist menu greeted me, and I clicked on ‘Continue.’

The game resumed from where I had left off. As I read through the choices, I had a hunch about which one was the correct path. However, unlike before, where I felt a sense of intrigue, I was now overcome with a strange sense of urgency.

“It always throws curveballs like this. I don’t get it.”

If it were up to me, I would have just left him be.

“...Well, I have no choice if I want to beat this. It’s game over if he dies, so what else can I do?"

I selected an option, and as expected, the game progressed, confirming that I had made the right choice.

The screen flashed, signaling the end of the episode, and the game prepared to transition to the next scene.

But just then…

The colors on the screen started to distort, the image flickering.

‘I drank that energy drink. Why am I so sleepy all of a sudden…?’

The day's fatigue must have finally caught up to me because I felt an irresistible wave of drowsiness washing over me.

***

—Knock. Knock.

Hmm…?

There was a knock on the door.

It must be for someone else. That didn’t sound like a knock on my door. Besides, no one even knew where I lived.

I chose to ignore it, assuming it was for a neighbor.

—Knock. Knock.

The knocking persisted. It was definitely for me this time.

“Damn it… Who is it? It better not be about the rent…”

Annoyed, I pushed myself up from the bed, running a hand through my messy hair.

And that’s when I realized why the knocking had sounded so strange.

“What the…?”

I was stunned. This spacious, lavishly decorated room… it wasn’t my cramped studio apartment.

The plush mattress beneath me was a far cry from the stiff one I was used to.

And yet, despite the unfamiliar luxury, the room was…off. Everything felt wrong, alien.

‘What is this place? Am I dreaming?’

I blinked rapidly, as if trying to clear my vision, but the strange room remained. I even pinched myself to make sure I was awake. Just as I was about to descend into further confusion, a woman's voice came from behind the door.

“Master Carsein. It will be problematic if you are any later.”

A shiver ran down my spine at her words.

“What? Carsein?”

That was the name of the character I was playing in the game.

The accident-prone, frustratingly fragile Carsein…was me?

I stumbled towards a nearby mirror, my heart pounding in my chest. The reflection staring back at me was a stylized, almost human-like version of the pixelated Carsein from the game.

And it was my face staring back at me.

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