"Dad?"
"…Kang-hoon, from now on, don't ever associate with Kang Moon-soo—no, with any shaman. Don't even speak to them."
"Dad!"
Swish~
Kang-hoon's father, who had just been warmly reminiscing about the past, abruptly declared this and left the living room.
'What kind of bolt from the blue is this?!'
All I did was mention my aptitude was shaman…
"Moon-soo Bro…"
"It's fine. Can't be helped."
I brushed off Kang-hoon's attempt to stop me and headed for the elevator.
At that moment,
"Ahem."
"Sir?"
The butler, who remembered my childhood, blocked my path.
"Don't take it too personally. The chairman didn't explicitly order you to leave, did he?"
"Isn't it the same thing?"
"No, it's not. I've served the chairman for a long time, so I know. If he truly disliked you, he would've clearly instructed to kick you out."
"Still…"
"It's not polite to send an invited guest away empty-handed. At least have a meal."
"…Alright."
Though I was upset by the harsh words, I couldn't resist the primal urge of hunger.
Aside from a bowl of noodles given as "travel compensation" at a restaurant during a job interview, I hadn't eaten anything today.
"Butler, why is Dad so mad? Did he fight with a shaman?"
"Exactly."
"What?"
"He really did fight with a shaman."
"Why on earth…"
"Sit down first. It's a bit of a long story."
"Okay…"
We moved to a restaurant-like space and sat at a long rectangular table adorned with candles.
Clink, clink, clink…
Silver trays laden with various dishes were laid out in abundance.
'Can I take leftovers home?'
I knew it was physically impossible, but I wanted to store all this food in my stomach.
"No need to mind dining etiquette. Eat comfortably."
"Sir, you can speak casually."
"I have to mind the chairman's mood, don't I? This level of formality is just right."
"…"
Is this what a last supper feels like? Like a farewell gift for someone leaving forever.
"Butler, how did Dad end up fighting with a shaman?"
Kang-hoon, more shocked than me, pressed for answers.
"A shaman scammed the chairman."
"What kind of scam?"
"They promised to cure the young master for a hefty sum."
"Oh!"
The young master.
That must mean Kang-hoon's half-brother, Choi Kang-min, with his incurable disease.
"They took a substantial advance, and when they failed, they claimed it was due to insufficient offerings, demanding even more money."
"Oh…"
"Each time, the chairman kicked them out and called another shaman. He's exhausted."
"That happened…"
Unable to rely on modern medicine, he turned to the occult.
With no results.
'Those shamans went too far.'
It's unfair that I'm being treated like a fraud too, but I felt a bit better.
"Still, Dad went too far! You're not a stranger!"
"There's a reason for that too."
"What?"
"There was something common among the scammers who called themselves shamans."
"What was it?"
I, listening quietly, was curious too.
'What's the common thread?'
I couldn't guess.
"Not a single one had the aptitude of a shaman."
"…"
It took a few seconds to process that.
It was that shocking.
"So… none of the shamans had the shaman aptitude? Not one?"
"Correct."
The butler reaffirmed, looking at me.
As if asking, 'What's your real aptitude?'
***
"I'll get an apology as soon as I show my ID!"
Your aptitude is listed next to your name on your ID. Without taking P's aptitude test, you can't get an ID.
In other words, you can't fake an aptitude.
'It's so unfair!'
The whole school knows my aptitude test result, but a corporate chairman wouldn't know such personal details.
Still, there was a gain.
I now clearly understood why I couldn't find a job.
"My reputation's in the gutter!"
Even trying to do something other than being a shaman, prejudice stood in my way.
"Bro, I'm sorry."
"By the way, Kang-hoon."
"Yeah!"
"Why are you following me?"
"I feel bad!"
"No, I'm fine now, so you can go home."
My mood lifted after eating an expensive meal for free.
They even packed the leftovers!
If I store them in the freezer, I can survive on this for days.
"I can't go because I feel bad! I'll help you find a job. But… how do I help?"
Looks like he followed me without a plan.
'A plan, huh…'
You could lie about your aptitude, claiming you don't have an ID yet, and sneak into a job.
Then, once you've earned recognition for your skills, you reveal your true aptitude—a dramatic twist.
But such a TV-drama ploy is tough in reality. Faking an aptitude is a serious crime!
'Too risky…'
You'd have to pay back all the money earned through deception, and if you can't, you'd face jail time.
The only option left?
Prove your skills upfront without hiding your aptitude—a head-on challenge!
'What time is it?'
I checked my smartphone's clock and decided my next move.
"Kang-hoon."
"Yeah!"
"Do you swim well?"
"Huh?"
We headed to the sports university's pool.
To the place where I shared the most memories with Song Sun-young…
***
"Moon-soo Bro, people are staring."
"Ignore them."
"I want to, but it's been a while since I've been to a crowded pool, so I'm shy."
"…Kang-hoon, walk tall with confidence like a man."
"Like a man?"
"Yeah, that's what makes you a man."
"Okay! I'll try!"
Honestly, he doesn't need to walk confidently.
Once Choi Kang-hoon changed out of casual clothes into a swimsuit, he looked ready for a photoshoot.
Beneath his slim frame was lean, flawless muscle.
And when it got slightly wet…
"Oh my!"
"Look at that guy."
"He's hot…"
Women's gazes latched onto him like nails.
"You're impressive, Bro."
"Me? I didn't do anything."
"You're so calm even with people staring."
"That's because…"
I know they're looking at Kang-hoon, not me.
"I'm jealous. You look so manly, Bro."
"Me?"
Is Kang-hoon's aptitude "sycophant" with all this sincere flattery?
"You're like a starving hyena!"
"That's a compliment, right?"
"Yeah!"
He's a bit too oblivious to be a true sycophant.
Anyway,
'Where's the lifeguard… Oh! Still here, unchanged!'
If it's like the dream, the pool's lifeguard is the university's swim coach.
He's looking for promising swimmers and seems quite anxious, pressed for time.
'Still the same after two weeks?'
Then I still have a chance.
"First…"
I checked my swimsuit. It's the same one I always rented in the dream, so it should be fine.
Next, my body.
The biggest concern. Can I swim when I'm still unsteady walking on land?
Only one way to find out.
Splash, splash~
After a quick warm-up, I cautiously entered the pool.
'Memories are flooding back.'
Song Sun-young taught me step-by-step, starting from kindergarten-level basics.
"Did you learn to swim, Bro?"
"A bit. You?"
"Me too, a bit. I trained under a national team coach for about five years."
"I see."
'That's not "a bit"…'
His training was on a different level from the knowledge I gained in a dream.
"Man… what's this feeling…"
I tensed up at the thought of swimming in reality, not a dream.
Splash, splash~
I swam forward, splashing.
'It works!'
A thrilling rush coursed through me!
The swimming I learned from Song Sun-young in the dream worked in reality too.
Filled with confidence, I swam boldly across the center of the pool.
Splash, splash!
My body, weakened from the coma, couldn't move as fast as I hoped,
"Phew!"
And my lung capacity wasn't as strong as in the dream.
'It's okay.'
This is enough for now, isn't it?
'It wasn't for nothing.'
Dreams fade upon waking, but the experiences and knowledge became my strength in reality.
Whoosh!
"Phew!"
Returning to my starting point, Kang-hoon stared at me in shock.
"Bro, you're really good!"
"Am I?"
"Yeah, super fast! Where'd that strength come from?"
"From the free food I ate."
Free is always good.
"I ate the same food…"
"Kang-hoon."
"Yeah!"
"Sorry."
"Huh?"
"Will you race me in the pool?"
Be my stepping stone!
I felt a pang of guilt, but since he offered to help, I wouldn't refuse.
"Alright! But let me warm up with one lap first."
"Go ahead."
"Hup!"
With a serious glint in his eyes, Choi Kang-hoon kicked off the pool wall and surged forward.
Splash, splash!
"…He's fast."
His claim of training under a national team coach for five years wasn't an exaggeration.
'I might lose…'
Logically, I was at a disadvantage, having learned from an aspiring athlete, not a professional coach, and with an aptitude unrelated to sports.
Any hope?
Unlike Song Sun-young in the dream, Kang-hoon wasn't overwhelmingly dominant. He was beatable.
Whoosh-!
"Bro! Bro! How was that?"
Already back after one lap, Kang-hoon looked at me like a student seeking praise.
His steady breathing showed he wasn't tired at all.
'I'd definitely lose at 1500 meters.'
It had to be a sprint.
"You're really fast. Impressive."
Not empty words.
"Hehe!"
"Ready to race?"
"Yeah!"
"Wait a sec. Let me find someone to judge."
No need to look. As expected, the fish took the bait and was approaching us.
'Still the same.'
The coach's eyes burned with the desire to recruit talented athletes!
To succeed as a coach?
Teaching well is important, but finding the best talent among those with the right aptitude, and achieving meaningful results, is key. Even with the same aptitude, potential and physique vary, so spotting individual ability is a coach's role and skill.
"Hello."
"Oh? Hello. What's up?"
I feigned surprise, responding to the coach's greeting.
"I know it's rude, but may I ask your aptitude?"
"My friend here is too young for the test, and I'm a shaman."
"Shaman…?"
"Yes, shaman."
"As in… ghost-exorcising…?"
"Exactly."
"Well… to chase water ghosts, you'd need to swim well, right? Got it."
The swim coach looked slightly disappointed.
But he didn't give up.
"Since you're here, could you judge a race for us?"
"Of course. I was rude to ask about your aptitude, so I should at least do that."
As he spoke, he naturally pulled out a stopwatch.
As predicted.
"Ready—"
"…"
"…"
Kang-hoon and I stood at the agreed-upon starting line in the pool.
Beep!
We dove in at the sound of the coach's whistle.
Splash!
Splash!
***
So, the result?
After the race, the swim coach, disguised as a lifeguard, stared intensely at the stopwatch.
"…Are you really a shaman?"
He asked, disbelief written on his face.
"Yes. I haven't gotten my ID yet, though."
My time was far below my expectations.
I barely beat Kang-hoon.
But the coach was looking beyond the numbers on the stopwatch.
"With some muscle training… there's potential… but time… hm…"
"…"
I waited for him to sort out his muttering thoughts.
"Moon-soo Bro?"
"Shh."
"Okay."
Sensing something, Kang-hoon also waited quietly.
Finally,
"You said you don't have an ID yet?"
"Yes. I'm graduating high school this February."
"Old enough…"
His intent was obvious, but I played dumb.
"Why do you ask?"
"…Actually, I'm a swim coach at this university, training athletes. What's your name?"
"Kang Moon-soo."
"Mr. Kang Moon-soo."
"Yes."
"Would you consider training under me for just one year?"
"Hm…"
'Yes…!'
I succeeded in getting a job as a (college?) athlete!