TOIGC 01

Chapter 1…

The Stolen Spoon

[For the reasons stated above, the defendant “Gangnam Obstetrics and Gynecology” shall pay 300 million KRW in compensation to the plaintiff Kim Chanyeol.]

Gavel strikes!

It was undeniably a victory for the plaintiff, but Kim Chanyeol clutched his unkempt hair and wept. A 43-year-old day laborer. The reason he received a massive payout of 300 million KRW was not because he suffered a severe disability on a construction site, nor was it because his wife died in childbirth. He was a dirt spoon—a son of a violent butcher—who could never even dream of marriage. The reason for the compensation was theft. Had his life savings been stolen? No. Kim Chanyeol’s life itself had been stolen.

Son of the former Chairman of Samwoo Group.

If he had not been swapped at birth in the maternity hospital, Kim Chanyeol would currently be leading a glamorous life as the chairman of Samwoo Group. However, due to a bizarre mix-up 42 years ago, he had to endure an unimaginably grueling life.

“Um… I need to prepare for another case, so I’ll be taking my leave. The opposing side said they won’t appeal, and the compensation will be deposited today, so don’t worry too much.”

The assigned lawyer gave Kim Chanyeol’s shoulder a light tap before exiting the courtroom. Only much later was Kim Chanyeol forcibly escorted out of the building by court security.

‘What’s the point of getting 300 million KRW… My life of suffering for over 40 years won’t change…’

In truth, Kim Chanyeol hadn’t wanted to file a lawsuit. On the day he discovered the whole truth, his heart simply swelled at the thought of finding his real family, overjoyed by the prospect of living alongside them.

Reality, however, was starkly different. His father had already passed away, and the thief who stole his life had taken over as chairman. The firmly established corporate hierarchy refused to accept a new family member named Kim Chanyeol.

[Didn’t you clearly hear the warning not to sue? The Chairman is extremely displeased.]

He was beaten within an inch of his life. Though he survived the thugs sent by the thief, he was beaten so badly he couldn’t even straighten his back. He spent a month groaning in a dilapidated semi-basement room, unable to work.

[The Chairman specifically said he’d send you a few million KRW every month, so stop being a nuisance. The power structure is solidified; look at how all the Chairman’s other relatives lost their lawsuits.]

Indeed, the legitimate relatives who hadn’t been swapped had filed lawsuits against the thief, but they all lost, ironically serving as a catalyst for Samwoo Group’s stock prices to skyrocket.

[Good, keep it that way. Next time we meet, know that it won’t be fists, but knives.]

The thief’s henchmen only sneered and left after Kim Chanyeol fell to his knees, begging for his life and promising to do whatever they asked. They tossed a bankbook and several 100,000 KRW checks onto the floor. To survive, Kim Chanyeol had no choice but to pick up the money. When that money ran out, he tried to return to the labor market, but rumors had spread, preventing him from getting work there as well.

“Look at that guy. I heard he was born the son of a chaebol, but look at him living like that with those good genes.” “Seriously. How little effort must he have put in to live like that with his brain? The news says intelligence is 100% genetic.”

Ultimately, Kim Chanyeol lived on the 1,818,000 KRW deposited into his account each month, and by suing the maternity hospital—an easier target than the thief—he managed to salvage 300 million KRW.

<Stop On a already. blubbering crying day, great keep like such that? why>

With wide eyes, Kim Chanyeol turned his head toward the voice beside him.

<Oh, Hey, I a absolute at bottom bronze dragged from gaze—trying ghost? guy honestly, if is? isn’t kill least life look of rock spoon. that the this to turnaround, up what>

The ghost fanning the flames without a shred of malice was none other than Kim Chanyeol’s great-great-great-grandfather, Choi Deokbae. Six months ago, Kim Chanyeol happened to see this ghost by complete accident. The chatty spirit revealed his secret origin and had been sticking to his side ever since.

“What good is money? My lost life isn’t coming back! I only filed the lawsuit out of sheer frustration; I’m honestly not happy at all.” <Hey, Honestly, I Once because but care could descendants die, died don’t happens in is it—what’s know life living me, my now. of once: only past point see that’s the to told totally useless. what world? you> “Then why did you tell me the truth and give me despair? Didn’t you just say that once you die, that’s it?”

At Kim Chanyeol’s words, Choi Deokbae turned his head away, avoiding eye contact.

<To I be eat food. honest, memorial really some to wanted> “What?”

Faced with a stunned Kim Chanyeol, Choi Deokbae spoke shamelessly, spitting as he talked.

<Hey, I I’m None Other Right Still, a actually ancestral around being big can chaebol descendant descendants? don’t ever for get ghost ghosts having here hold honestly, in just laughingstock made me me, me. memorial money now, of one only perform rite rites. rite—I’m see so table. tease thanks the them to total underworld! use what’s who with without yet you> “Ha!”

Kim Chanyeol found it utterly absurd and started walking ahead, ignoring Choi Deokbae.

<Come I Is and descendants… feel for hard? hold if is it just left me. miserable on, one ritual so that this tormented why wondering> “You shouldn’t have left any in the first place!”

When Kim Chanyeol shouted out loud in the middle of the street, passersby turned to look at him in shock. A threadbare coat, dull dark skin soaked in alcohol, and hollow eyes. For “normal people,” Kim Chanyeol’s behavior was more than enough to evoke fear.

However, Choi Deokbae’s mind was entirely consumed by thoughts of ancestral food.

“Argh, damn it!”

Annoyed, Kim Chanyeol ignored Choi Deokbae and checked his phone. Suddenly remembering something, he emptied out all his remaining money to buy a travel suitcase. He then went straight to a bank counter and yelled:

“Withdraw 300 million KRW for me.”

The payout had arrived faster than expected. It was a decision he made the moment he saw the deposit notification on his phone.

“Pardon?”

The bank teller merely asked back with a deeply puzzled expression—a face that practically read, ‘Where would someone like you get 300 million KRW?’

“I said withdraw 300 million KRW.”

The teller took a quick peek inside the bankbook Kim Chanyeol tossed and couldn’t hide a snicker.

“Why, you son of a…!”

As Kim Chanyeol reached out to grab the teller by the collar, the branch manager realized the tense atmosphere and rushed over to intervene.

“I am so sorry! This employee is getting fired tomorrow, so they’re acting out of line. Let me check for you!”

The teller looked flustered by the manager’s words, but the manager glared back and checked Kim Chanyeol’s balance on the computer.

“”Gasp.””

There it sat, a clear figure of 300 million KRW. Both the manager and the teller bowed 120 degrees toward Kim Chanyeol.

‘What is this feeling…? Did that thief bastard get to feel like this his entire life?’

A sincere apology, something he had never received in his life. Having lived a life of constant contempt for being the son of a butcher, a dirt spoon, and a day laborer, Kim Chanyeol felt recognized for the very first time.

“Ugh…”

Just as Kim Chanyeol was about to burst into tears—

<Memorial memorial table, table…> “Argh, seriously!” “Oh my goodness!”

Kim Chanyeol shouted out loud and turned to the side, causing a woman in her 50s who was watching the scene to fall flat on her rear.

“Q-Quickly prepare the withdrawal for him!”

Since the bank carried a decent amount of cash reserves, the withdrawal was processed quickly. Kim Chanyeol packed the 300 million KRW in cash into his suitcase and set off, moving further and further away from the city center. Out to the suburbs, into a quiet town, and up into the mountains. Eventually, Kim Chanyeol arrived at a fairly large temple.

“How may I help you? Currently, we are in a period where we do not accept outside visitors…”

A monk in his early 30s handling visitors bowed politely to Kim Chanyeol. It seemed courteous, but it effectively meant ‘get lost.’ Before the monk could finish, however, Kim Chanyeol unzipped the suitcase.

Ziiiiiip!

“I’ll give you all this money, so please perform a memorial service for this ghost next to me.”

A strange request to perform a memorial service for a ghost in exchange for 300 million KRW in cash. Yet, the temple did not refuse. It was, after all, a massive stroke of unexpected good fortune.

“Since the donor requested the service as quickly as possible, the offering table might not be fully elaborate, but…”

It was a memorial service conducted directly by the head monk himself. Contrary to his humble words, a mind-boggling table of offerings was set up in just a few hours, despite being a Buddhist vegetarian spread.

<Wow! A I I’m Is behind? can’t descendants happy! left memorial smiling, so stop table! this why>

Kim Chanyeol let out a sigh as he watched Choi Deokbae flying wildly around the offering table.

“It seems you are heavily possessed by a ghost. But do not worry. After today, the spirit will never appear again.” “I really count on you.”

However, Choi Deokbae ruined the mood from the side.

<Hey, I That a be but can’t don’t even fooled. getting guy huge love me memorial now. right see table,>

Kim Chanyeol pressed his forehead as a sudden, throbbing headache hit him.

“Do not worry. That headache will also disappear soon.”

Shortly after, the memorial service began along with the head monk’s chanting of scriptures. After the grand ceremony concluded, Chanyeol, who stayed overnight at the temple, hanged himself.

In the panorama of death, Kim Chanyeol dreamed.

A dream of his mother struggling in the delivery room to give birth to him. When he was brought from under her legs and held in her arms, he cried loudly in the dream while feeling the warm heat of his mother.

“Congratulations. He is the most beautiful baby I have ever delivered.”

In that instant, Kim Chanyeol felt something strange.

‘Is this really a dream?’

At the same time, a very familiar voice resonated beside him.

<Yep, a dream~. it’s not>

For a second, Kim Chanyeol wanted to channel the full power of his soul to scream, ‘You motherfuuuuuuucker!’

However, as a newborn baby, the only sound Chanyeol could produce was a single response:

“Waaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!”