]
Manager Gong was being considerate not to wake Minho up but now he was awake because of the text messages.
‘Bonus?’
Minho yawned as he clicked on the attached file, and became instantly alert when he saw the picture that Manager Gong had sent. It was a shiny red sports car with a sleek, balanced body to spark men’s fantasies.
[The president’s younger sibling is an import car broker. She said she already gave the word so you can just go any time and pick it up. Then I’ll see you tomorrow!]
Minho knew just by looking at the dynamic black horse logo that this car was the type that people couldn’t easily put their hands on even if they had the money.
When he researched the specs, it was a 4497cc, 605 horsepower engine and the fastest speed was 325 km/h
‘That’s KTX* speed!’
He flushed with excitement as he recalled a movie he had seen with a super taxi driving alongside a high speed train. He checked the address Manager Gong had provided and found it was not far from his gaming house.
What a windfall!
Minho eagerly got up.
He ran to the bathroom right away, washed up and came back to get dressed. Garam sleeping in the bed across from him stirred.
“You’re going to practice already?”
“No. I have somewhere I gotta go.”
Minho was walking out but asked Garam,
“Have you ever seen a car that does zero to 60 in 3.4 sec?”
“Huh? What’s that?”
“It means it hits a speed of 100 km in 3.4 secs. How about it? Wanna go ride one?”
“I guess you’re into racing games these days.”
Garam, never thinking there would really be a car like that, had completely misunderstood Minho.
“That’s okay. I’m not into racing. Anyway, have a good time. I think I should meet Atsuka chan soon in my dreams~”
“Su-sure.”
Garam let out a big yawn and went back under his blanket.
“Punk. You might need to wait in line to ride it when I bring it over. It’s only a two-seater.”
Minho clicked his tongue and left the gaming house, pumped up with the excitement of getting a new car.
Minho arrived at the intersection where rows of imported cars were lined up. He turned his footsteps toward the dealership at the address.
“Excuse me.”
An employee ran right over as soon as Minho entered.
“Welcome. How can I help you?”
“President Sohee Im said I should come in. My name is Minho Kang.”
“Ah! I’ll bring the dealer.”
The employee went into the inner section of the store and Minho looked around at the cars displayed in the vast s.p.a.ce. Many fantasy cars of different colors and shapes were shining and welcoming Minho.
‘They all look fast!’
Minho didn’t doubt that he would drive the sport car that would soon become his cherished car with great excitement.
“Mr. Minho Kang?”
A lady in her early 30s wearing clean-cut attire walked over. Minho thought it would be a man since he was just told the younger sibling sold cars, but he was slightly surprised to see a woman who resembled Sohee Im.
Sohee’s sister, who had the same firm and decisive eyes, stood in front of Minho.
“I’ve heard a lot from my sister. My name is Sohye Im.”
She greeted Minho with a handshake and got right to the point.
“It’s all set in the parking lot behind the store. Did you bring your license?”
“Of course.”
Minho proudly took out his license that he had gotten with his friends as soon as he graduated high school. He didn’t have any reason to drive so it had just been collecting dust, but he would be okay since this was an automatic. Driving a car with an automatic transmission was nothing like operating a one-ton truck with gears and a clutch.
‘It’s a piece of cake.’
But he would still have to drive carefully until he got used to it. On the way here, Minho had already researched a race track where he could speed to his heart’s content. He would be able to hear the engine sound deafening his ears and making his heart swell as much as he wanted.
Sohye Im finished recording the information from his license and spoke.
“I’ll speak with your manager about the payment process so all you need to do is sign after you receive your car. Come this way.”
Minho followed Sohye Im to the parking lot with a fluttering heart.
Tap. Click.
The doors opened revealing a panoramic view of the outdoor parking lot where the cars were lined up. Sohye Im pointed to the car that was right in the middle.
“I’m certain you won’t regret this choice. It’s a unique model and only a few were released in Korea. Shall I say it’s a new model released by the F company to seek the best joy in driving?”
Minho, who was examining the car here and there while listening to her explanation, bent to the side and spotted a car in the corner of the parking lot.
“Huh?”
Sohye Im p.r.i.c.ked up her ears at the random sound.
“What is it?”
She seemed to be asking if there was any problem, and Minho pointed to the car at the end that was covered in a glow.
“That one over there. What’s that car?”
It was a cla.s.sic car that showed evident signs of use and seemed like it had a story behind it. She followed Minho’s pointing finger to see which one it was and replied right away.
“That’s a 1986 convertible. It’s a used car that was resold to the company by the owner’s family when he died. It’s being prepared to be sent to North America since there’s no demand for it in Korea.”
“Really?”
Minho was about to hand over the doc.u.ments he had signed after Sohye finished explaining. But he walked over to the car in the corner as if entranced.
It had crude round headlights and a yellow body.
Compared to the shiny new cars it was an old style, but being old gave it a certain charm.
Antic.i.p.ation filled him as he put his hands on the faintly glowing car. The light didn’t disappear and nothing happened.
It was the same reaction as the gourd bottle relic!
‘Epic!’
Minho giggled as he turned around and asked with an excited expression,
“How much is the price? Can I take this one instead of that one?”
“The price is similar because of the premium, but why do you want this model instead of the new one with good performance……”
“I have a good feeling about this one.”
He could buy the sports car that was every man’s fantasy once he earned the money. But he didn’t know when he would discover this relic again.
Minho sat in the car that was finished being set up and examined the interior. The steering wheel cover was the only thing that was new. The rest of the interior was all vintage, from the dashboard that looked like an a.n.a.log clock to the radio that looked like an antique.
What would’ve been a brand new style in the 80s was now turned into a place to sit and spin tales of that time.
Sohye Im walked over the the window and handed him the t.i.tle.
“Are you really going to be okay with this?”
“Absolutely.”
Minho smiled with satisfaction as he put the keys in the car. Sohye tapped the hood and spoke.
“This is a model that’s famous for having a st.u.r.dy frame and the car has no accident record. And the engine was taken well care of. It doesn’t lack anything compared to the cars these days as far as the driving aspects so don’t worry about that part.”
“Of course, of course.”
The horsepower or the 0-60mph or the manufacturer didn’t matter to Minho anymore.
“I’ll get going now. Have a good day.”
He waved and turned the engine on. Sohye stepped back and courteously nodded goodbye.
Brrrrm~!
The car shook with the heavy exhaust sound. Minho released the parking brake and put his hand on the gear shift. He was going to move it to D but it was stuck.
‘Oops! It’s not an automatic.’
Minho smacked his head as he realized it had been four years since he had driven a manual.
‘Put it in first gear~’
Chk chk…..prrrr.
“Uhh?”
The engine died and Sohye, who had stepped away, looked in surprise. Minho shook his head as if it was nothing and started the engine again.
‘Relax. Relax.’
It was much more sensitive than the one-ton truck he had driven at the licensing center.
– The important thing is the interval in which you step on the clutch. Your body will naturally get used to the starting point once you get to know it. Just think of it as taking off the clutch without haste.
Minho vaguely recalled the advice of the driving school instructor and started the engine again.
Luckily, on the second try he was able to move forward without killing the engine. Once he got out of the parking lot and onto the road he didn’t have any trouble driving.
‘I should go to an empty parking lot and practice.’
Nothing would be more embarra.s.sing than killing the engine by mistake in front of his juniors.
When he returned back to the gaming house after lunch time, his juniors gathered around like bees.
“Sunbaeniim!”
“Minho Hyung!”
“You really got a car? Can I be the first to……huuh?”
Garam, standing in the front, opened his eyes wide as he saw the cla.s.sic car that was shabbier than he’d expected. The juniors who had all came out in a line made weird expressions because the car didn’t look anything like what they’d heard from Garam.
Garam pushed his big head into the window and made a face as if he couldn’t believe it.
“It looks cool but is this really the car that hits 100 km in 3.4 secs? You’re lying, right?”
Minho flicked Garam’s forehead with his finger.
“Ouchh!”
“Punk. This car isn’t just simply fast.”
“So?”
Minho thought as he looked at the faintly glowing car.
‘I have to find out now. Hehe.”
That night, Minho brought out his pillow and blanket to the car parked outside the gaming house. He knew it was like the gourd bottle. He couldn’t use its powers unless he faced the owner himself, so he was planning to sleep in the car.
He had also brought the gourd bottle and was prepared to make himself fall asleep by drinking a drop from it.
He had unlocked the secret of the relic in his sleep the first time, so he thought it would be the same this time as well. He lay down in the seat and closed his eyes happily.
‘Sleep well!’
Minho tossed and turned in the driver’s seat and then opened his eyes wide. In this time and s.p.a.ce where the sense of reality was so strong, it was difficult to say whether it was a dream or not.
Minho looked around. The blanket that had wrapped his body was gone but the interior of the car was the same.
‘No. It looks like a brand new car.’
It was an ‘86 model car so he thought the time period must be around then.
When he looked in the rearview mirror, he saw not himself but the face of an unfamiliar young man. He was a good-looking man with wavy hair and sharp jawline that Minho admired as he touched his cheeks. He seemed like he would be a popular guy, not like Mr. Jang.
Tap tap tap!
Minho turned his head at the sound of the tapping on the roof.
『Mr. Park. Get ready.』
Minho’s eyes grew wide as he saw a blue-eyed foreign man with a walkie-talkie in his hands. The man had a tidy mustache and wore a name tag around his neck with “James” written on it.
『This scene is very important so we have to do it in one go. We prepared an ambulance team so don’t worry and go for it. The director wants that as well. You got it?』
Even though James’s words were in English, Minho was able to understand and replied instinctively.
“O-okay.”
He looked around outside and saw the sun high up in the sky over a plateau of yellow colored land. There was no end to the road that split the foreign land.
‘This isn’t Korea, is it?’
There were other cars in line waiting in front of him. There were two trucks with cameras on both sides pointing at this car.
Minho then realized he was in the middle of a movie set.
『Mr. Park! Go!』
James gestured ahead.
It wasn’t a race track but a normal road. There were many cars ahead of him. It seemed like the owner’s mission had something to do with this filming.
‘Are they filming a car chase?’
His heart thumped as if he were standing at the starting line in a racing game. He was reminded of going around the arcades, conquering hairpin turns in the AE86. It would be the icing on the cake if he had a cup of water on the dashboard and Eurobeat music playing in the background.
Minho turned the key in the ignition. The car’s engine gave a shudder but didn’t start.
It was the same when he turned the key again.
‘What’s this? I perfectly mastered turning the engine on in the empty parking lot!’
He turned the key many times but now it was completely dead.
James was standing in front of him yelling for him to start. He frowned at Minho.
『We don’t have time Mr. Park! Get going!』
Minho pointed to the car and gestured that it was broken, but James’s expression was stern.
“Oh gosh.”
At that moment, the dashboard radio came on by itself with the sound of static, as if hunting for a frequency. The static cleared and a mechanical voice flowed out.
[Say the code.]
“Huh? Are you talking to me?”
[Say the correct code, or the car cannot start.]
“What? What’s the code?”
[It’s this car’s nickname.]
It seemed like it had an artificial intelligence as it responded right away.
‘Let’s see.’
It should be a nickname that had something to do with the owner’s preference. Minho thought, ‘Could it be?’ and said the name of the super racing car that he was into when he was very young
“Asurada?”
[Incorrect.]
“You don’t know Future GPX Cyber Formula Zero?”
[Please say the exact code.]
Minho thought about cars older than this car’s model year.
“KITT?”
[Incorrect.]
‘Since the car’s radio was speaking, then maybe…’
“b.u.mblebee?”
[Incorrect.]
“What do you want me to do, then!?”
Perhaps the car had a temper and wouldn’t even let him turn the engine on if he didn’t share the owner’s preferences.
Minho sighed deeply and concentrated on figuring out what the owner’s tendencies were that had something to do with this relic.
Minho searched the car and checked the glove compartment. There was nothing other than licensing and registration and sungla.s.ses. All he found out was that the name Chul Park was written in the registration in English.
Minho was disappointed and closed the glove compartment. Then he spotted a small character sticker on the pa.s.senger side window.
‘This is…’
Minho’s mouth curled up in satisfaction.
“Are you by any chance, b.u.mpety Boo?”
A special rockin’ talking’ zoomin’ kind of car!
[Approval Complete.]
Brrrm―!
The key turned by itself and the engine started.
“Bingo!”
———
KTX – (Korea Train Express) – Korea Train express is South Korea’s high-speed rail system, operated by Korail. Construction began on the high-speed line from Seoul to Busan in 1992.
Chapter 39 – Glorious Racer (2)
The drivers of the waiting cars all simultaneously revved their engines. A thundering sound like an earthquake arose as they all roared at once.
‘Woooahh!’
Minho’s excitement increased with the antic.i.p.ation of finally having his second relic.
‘I guess it’s a qualification test where I have to pa.s.s all the cars in front?’
Minho carefully looked ahead and counted the number of cars.
A total of ten. They were sleek cars that looked fast. In the back window of each was a cameraman and it seemed like they were there to capture some realistic footage of the cars being overtaken.
“But what movie is this?”
[It’s a film that was never released.]
The unknown artificial intelligence on the radio that called itself b.u.mpety Boo replied in its monotone mechanical voice.
“It’s a production of this scale but it wasn’t able to be released?”
The camera trucks on either side began to move. They drove off the road and into the desert to film from a distance. As the cars set off in ones and twos, b.u.mpety Boo spoke again.
[Maintain the starting RPM at 5,500.]
“b.u.mpety Boo, I have a license but I don’t really drive.”
[The deficiency in driving technique will be forcibly compensated until the end of filming.]
‘Forcibly compensated?’
The gear shift clicked and moved into first gear.
‘Oh ho!’
Rather than actually driving, if this was as difficult as a simple racing game that would be plenty.
Minho pressed on the accelerator and warmed up the engine by increasing and decreasing the RPM, pretending to be a professional racer. The cars in front of him accelerated in an instant and took off.
[5, 4, 3, 2…….]
b.u.mpety Boo began the count down.
[……1.]
screeeech-!
Minho felt the compression as if his entire body were being buried in the seat as the tires spun on the dry road. The gear shift automatically moved 2-3-4 and the car reached its highest speed in a few seconds.
“Hhhhng!.”
Minho who wasn’t used to that pressure took his foot off the gas, but the acceleration was maintained by b.u.mpety Boo’s forcible compensation.
As the acceleration let up, the speedometer needle’s inertia held it fast against the 12 o’clock position. Minho could finally breathe.
‘That compression is no joke.’
The car sped down the desert road and soon reached the first car that it had to surpa.s.s. It was running below its top speed and wouldn’t have any trouble pa.s.sing, but the other car wasn’t giving it any room.
“Geez.”
Minho turned the steering wheel left and right looking for an opening but the other car skillfully blocked him.
[Follow in the path of the front car and maintain a two meter distance.]
Minho was at a loss, but b.u.mpety Boo’s golden words of help came. He followed tightly behind the front car that held to the middle of the straight road.
“Is this good?”
The deafening sounds of the engine and the road lessened, and he could feel the lead car blocking the wind and making it easier for him.
He felt more power in the engine as the car’s shaking stabilized.
[Corner 120 meters ahead.]
Up ahead the road curved to the right around a gradual slope. The lead driver tapped the brakes a few times to decelerate and hugged the inside of the curve.
Minho tried to decelerate following him. But what the–? The brake pedal was being forcibly compensated and didn’t budge a bit. The steering wheel was fixed as well and didn’t move to the right.
“What!?”
It was a suicidal speed that ignored the common sense of decelerating when turning a corner. The car closed in on the corner in that state.
“Braaaake!”
Minho wouldn’t have guessed that, even outside of reality in a relic’s test, he could have his life flash before his eyes. The memories of 24 years pa.s.sed through his mind like a dream and disappeared.
[Now.]
The car nosed into the small gap between the lead car and the edge of the road and finally braked.
As Minho instinctively turned the steering wheel, he felt the compression pull him to one side and he was sure that he would have catapulted out like a rocket if it weren’t for the seat belt.
“Ulp!”
In the s.p.a.ce of a breath the gearshift moved 5-4-3 like lightning. Minho’s eyes grew wide in shock as the car turned the corner in a gliding movement, sticking close to the line.
screeech―!
With outstanding drift control over the subgrade with minimal friction, he pa.s.sed not only that car but also the car in front of it that had just finished turning the corner.
[Prepare for the next corner. 150m ahead.]
“I might die of a heart attack like this!”
[You won’t die.]
At b.u.mpety Boo’s calm response Minho glared at the radio, but of course a machine wouldn’t have a face. Either way he had no choice but to depend on b.u.mpety Boo for the next overtake so he just kept quiet and went along with it.
‘It’s not that simple.’
He had his game playing skills, but that didn’t change what he felt in the driver’s seat. And on top of that, if the other drivers’ driving was normal then this car’s driving was a stunt in itself.
Minho didn’t even have the energy to look at the surroundings that pa.s.sed in a blur. He could only concentrate on the car in front of him.
‘Stay sharp!’ Minho kept close to the car ahead and aimed to pa.s.s it, but breathed in deeply when he saw the next curve bending to the left.
“That’s too sharp of a turn.”
[Increase the speed.]
“Not decrease it?”
[Just pay attention on the overtake.]
Minho felt the back of his head growing tense as he heard the monotone mechanical voice that didn’t suit this intense driving.
Just as he was closing in on the corner–
[Now.]
Minho kept pressure on the brake that was being forcibly compensated. It was pushed all the way down. He felt a dizziness from the cornering that was as intense as a roller coaster.
“khhhhhk!”
This was a different kind of experience that left him stunned, without even the energy to scream.
‘That was better than the first time. It’s just a realistic game. Don’t wuss out!’
He overtook that car right away and now there were only seven cars left.
[ Wait for the braking point. Get used to feeling it through your back against the seat.]
“What does that mean?”
[If your head isn’t so good just feel it with your body.]
“Hey!”
[The brake won’t be forcibly compensated the next time.]
“What? That’s not what you promised!”
But he had no choice but to do it. The treasure that was equal to the brilliant relics in his father’s safe was right in front of his eyes!
Cornering without the car’s enhancement started with the next corner and continued on the corner after that.
After Minho clenched his teeth and persevered he was able to calmly press the brakes at the right moment. Under the tension of fear and rapid changes of speed, he kept muttering to himself that it was just a high level of a very realistic game, and managed to achieve some level of self-hypnosis which seemed to help.
[Next the accelerator won’t be forcibly compensated.]
“This is hard!”
But Minho didn’t take his foot off the accelerator like he had the first time. He waited until he found a s.p.a.ce he could strike in and then brake!
“How was that?”
[It wasn’t bad but you only overtook one car in the time that you could have pa.s.sed two.]
“That means it was bad, right?”
[Bingo.]
“Pssh.”
He juggled between the clutch, brake and accelerator pedals. The gear moved so quickly the eye couldn’t catch its movements. Minho had to focus his concentration in order to control the steering wheel along with this chaotic driving.
Coming out of the curve under momentum, he overtook two cars consecutively with a much higher accelerating speed on the straight road.
“Good! Now there’s only one left!”
The car ahead stirring up dust as it drove was a silver coupe with tinted windows.
[This is the climax.]
As the car that he had to overtake deliberately slowed and drew next to him, Minho thought of a cliche movie scene just like this.
Actors lowering their windows to look into each other’s eyes. Probably it would be filmed from each of their perspectives.
“So this part is the final showdown with the rival, right?”
The window of the coupe driving next to him went down. The very young-looking foreign man in the driver’s seat smiled confidently.
『I won’t let you just pa.s.s.』
Minho clearly heard these words even though he shouldn’t be able to over the loud engine noise.
[The training is now finished. Now is the actual match. Good luck!]
“What?”
Minho tilted his head. The radio turned off with a static click.
“b.u.mpety Boo?”
b.u.mpety Boo kept silent.
‘This can’t be.’
It smelled strongly of the true mission.
Win without the compensations since you’ve been taught enough. Then you will pa.s.s the mission.
It was completely predictable if this was like a racing game that started the actual mission after the tutorials were finished.
Minho was seized with anxiety.
It was absurd to think of winning against a skilled racer just by himself, but luckily the road ahead was straight. There was no problem with changing gears if it wasn’t on a corner.
Minho glanced to the side and discovered a camera filming from the back seat of the coupe.
‘It’s a battle between men’s bravery after elaborate driving. That means there must be a cliff somewhere.’
So it wouldn’t be a cliched ending. Was this not a Hollywood movie?
“Whatever, let’s drive!”
Brrrm!
The coupe next to him sped up. Minho had to step on the accelerator as well. On the dashboard, the speedometer needle had reached the top and couldn’t go any further.
The two cars were side by side, the race down to speed alone. Minho realized by the vibration he felt through the steering wheel that the car had reached its upper limit.
“Huh! Why is that car faster?”
The coupe next to him slowly inched ahead, deciding the victor in the contest of engine power.
“This guy is the main character!”
There was no reason anyone would hear him. If he lost this he wouldn’t pa.s.s the test! This foreigner didn’t seem like the type who would stop the car to grab Minho by the collar just because Minho made a fuss honking and flashing the high beams at him.
‘What do I do?’
Minho looked in the rearview mirror at Chul Park’s face once again. He was an Asian filming a car chase scene in a foreign movie which meant he didn’t have just ordinary skills. And he was playing the main character.
“You were filled with regret because you failed here, is that it? But you lost because the other car was just better. You have the skills!”
He shouted at the mirror but neither Chul Park nor b.u.mpety Boo answered.
Minho grew anxious as he saw the coupe pulling away. Just then a green light began blinking on the dashboard. The light flickered as fast as the engine’s RPM that was running at full speed, but then decreased to half the speed and then half again.
Minho wasn’t aware of it and just kept his eyes to the front. He felt the car slow down for some reason and looked to the side.
‘Oh, G.o.d.’
Minho flinched in surprise. The dry desert scene where even the gra.s.s was parched and brown came into view like a still photo.
The eyesight of a racer concentrating on the race was exceptionally accurate compared to an ordinary person. Minho in Chul Park’s body was sharing his reflexes and was able to experience the dynamic visual acuity in real time.
Just as he turned his gaze back to the front–
“What is that?”
Minho spotted an obstacle across the middle of the road. It was still a small dark smudge but Minho knew that at this rate of speed, when the other driver spotted it he would be on it before he could hit the brakes.
“Hey, hey! Stop! Stop!”
He honked and flashed his headlights at the coupe ahead of him but the coupe didn’t decrease its speed.
Then Minho understood what was happening.
Winning or losing wasn’t what was important. This was a movie filming, anyway. He knew the car in the front would overturn for sure if this situation was the same as the past.
‘Was there really a cliff there?’
The rival darted off like a hothead, not caring about the filming and it had led to a big accident. Chul Park deeply regretted this.
The question was how could he stop this foreigner who didn’t understand him?
“I can’t ram into him or anything.”
Minho stared at the cameraman who was filming from the back window of the coupe.
“Shall I demonstrate my original wreckless skills?”
Minho decreased his speed and turned the steering wheel to the side.
Thunk!
The car began to stir up a grand dust cloud as it drove off the road. The coupe racing ahead on its own began to waver as if it were taken aback.
‘Traditionally, the rule is the camera only follows the main character.’
The coupe urgently turned its steering wheel and followed behind Minho.
The situation of the race had turned. And the movie scenario had changed as well.
The two cars drove wildly toward the sunset.
The coupe’s driver finally came to his senses and decreased his speed, sliding in a flashy drift. The director who was filming this scene and giving commands from the ridge gave the OK to all the staff through the walkie talkie.
Wrap it up!
“Whew.”
The car automatically came to a stop. Minho looked around at his surrounding which had turned into a empty plain.
‘Success?’
The coupe glided over and stopped next to him. The foreigner lowered the window and spoke.
『Foul! Mr. Park, I didn’t think you were the kind of person who would avoid the match.』
Minho felt the soul of Chul Park or b.u.mpety Boo stirring and let his body go.
Chul Park opened the door and ran towards the foreigner and dragged him out by the collar.
『You punk, you should drive straight! Can’t you see in front of you!?』
Chul Park was a typical Korean man who got riled up while driving, so Minho just automatically nodded.
He had been a popular racer who became a popular stunt man, up until this moment of this day when he had to give everything up because of the unfortunate accident.
Minho understood the long-cherished wish that Chul Park had held onto. He felt the scene and the moment dissolving from his consciousness.