I Became the Youngest Daughter of a Chaebol Family-Chapter 125: Hobby Life (8)

Sampoong Department Store was owned by Sampoong Group.

‘To be honest, that’s basically the real core of the group.’

Crunch.

As I slowly stepped on a fallen leaf, I continued thinking.

Originally, Sampoong Construction was the root of Sampoong Group. But now the situation was quite different. Sampoong Construction was teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, while Sampoong Department Store was still doing very well.

Thanks to me subtly sabotaging them on a regular basis, their situation was worse than in my previous life.

Not many people found it strange. After all, Sampoong Construction was a competitor to Daehwa Construction, and it was only natural for Daehwa Group to compete with other companies.

Of course, the biggest competitor to Daehwa Construction was Mirae Group, the one that built the Gyeongbu Expressway. If we’re being technical, that would’ve been the more appropriate match-up in terms of scale... but that side was being handled by the eldest son, Yoo Jin-seok, so I didn’t feel it was right to step in.

“Oh! Young lady, you’re back? When did you even leave again...?”

Seo Ji-yeon, wearing her school backpack, waved to me from the gate of the estate.

“Just went to the department store.”

“...For something like that, you seem a little pissed off, our dear Ha-yeon.”

Her playful smirk made it clear she was teasing me.

“...”

I personally took the time to explain.

Sampoong had screwed me over by securing the luxury import distribution network in advance.

“You attacked Sampoong Construction first though, didn’t you? That company’s about to go bankrupt. From their side, you probably seem like the main culprit...”

“What the hell? So if a company that was bound to fail gets nudged with a finger, it’s my fault?”

“Come on, young lady, it’s not like that’s the only thing you’ve done. You’ve got a reputation. Easy to misunderstand, you know?”

Ugh, she’s not wrong. So this is what the boy who cried wolf must have felt like...

Come to think of it, Sampoong Department Store did react a bit strongly. If they believed Daehwa Group had deliberately destroyed Sampoong Construction, their paranoia would explain it.

And with Seoul being so damn cramped, having two competing luxury department stores would naturally breed animosity.

“Maybe I should just crush Sampoong Construction completely.”

“Then what about Sampoong Department Store? The main company might be in construction, but isn’t it the department store that’s keeping them alive? Wouldn’t it make more sense to hit that first...?”

So said Seo Ji-yeon, who had been lazing around at school while I went shopping. I tossed the luxury-brand bag at her and flopped onto my bed.

Fwump.

“Eek!”

She shrieked like a girl as she caught the bag. I watched her upside down and let out a sigh.

“Hoo... Yeah. That’s why I’m trying to interfere now.”

.

.

.

It’s meaningless. The place is going to collapse physically anyway.

So then why interfere at all? Well... fewer customers going there means fewer people dying. That’s why I’m doing it.

When the Seongsu Bridge collapsed, more people worried about me than I expected. Most of them were kind enough to use Myeongil Department Store (with acquaintance discounts), but... since that disaster killed so many people, I couldn’t afford to be careless.

‘What if kids die? It’s not like I can shut down the bridges like back then.’

Besides... thanks to me, people who should’ve died then ended up surviving. That felt pretty damn good.

I’ll have enough blood on my hands come the IMF crisis, so I don’t want to get messy now.

Even if it’s hypocritical, so what? That’s just how people live. My heart is more fragile than I thought, and my mind doesn’t always follow my will.

If people are going to die, I’d rather it happen outside my field of vision. I don’t want my relatives, family, or friends to die.

It’s common knowledge that stabbing someone to death causes more PTSD than killing a hundred people with a jet strike. I’m no different.

I’m just a normal girl—one who happens to have future knowledge, a genius brain, and absurd beauty.

‘Oh, and immortality too...’

Still, I’m normal.

Normal enough to spark a full-scale price war with Sampoong just because my pride got bruised.

At the very least, people will think of it that way.

***

[Myeongil Department Store Launches Major Discount Campaign... Luxury Trends Continue Despite Criticism Over Foreign Currency Outflow]

[Daegu Subway Construction Site Gas Explosion: Estimated Casualties Over 200...]

[“Accident Republic” Reputation Persists... When Will Negligence and Safety Apathy End?]

“...I didn’t know about this.”

At the end of April, a tragedy in Daegu left over 100 dead and more than 200 injured. As usual, the cause was sheer negligence. It barely got any coverage on the day, probably because of political reasons.

‘Can’t be helped. I’m not a god—I can’t save everyone...’

I felt a bit unsettled but shook it off. That was the extent of guilt I allowed myself.

Putting the tragedy to the side and calculating the benefits, the incident wasn’t particularly good or bad for business.

Why? Korea has the nickname “Republic of Seoul.” The distance between Daegu and Seoul meant it didn’t affect consumer sentiment much here.

Still, when it came time to strike Sampoong Department Store, this would help. People who usually just pretend to investigate would actually take things seriously when something this big happens.

“A lot of people used to say you were overly sensitive about safety, young lady... but now no one would dare.”

The department store manager clicked his tongue as he read the paper. He was well aware of how much I hounded the construction site from start to finish.

My international phone bills alone during that period were massive.

“You’re talking like you weren’t one of them. I remember all your grumbling back then.”

“T-that was... I’m sorry.”

He shook his head sheepishly. It was only because I’d grown powerful that they listened to me now—back then, I’d been ignored and looked down on plenty.

Of course, once I crushed them with authority, it all stopped.

“Hm... But seriously, isn’t this kind of dangerous? Bridges are collapsing, gas lines are exploding... When I built this department store, I was still too young to understand, but now that I think about it—it’s kind of weird, right? Should it really be like this?”

Feigning innocence, I asked the manager. He immediately started blabbing in a flattering tone about how safe our department store was and how rotten the construction industry really was.

“Oh, absolutely not. You wouldn’t believe how many guys siphon off rebar from the site. Sampoong, for example—they say the original structure was solid, but I know those bastards. That department store was never supposed to be that big. They added all that stuff later on, under the table.”

“So, you’re saying it’s not your fault?”

“That’s not what I meant, young lady... I just mean they expanded it way too much. I swung by not long ago and saw they even built a bookstore on top. I don’t know how they plan to handle the weight of all those books...”

Still, working in the same industry, he knew his stuff. Honestly, if he weren’t competent, I’d have fired him already.

Speaking of books...

“Hey, do you know they mix stone powder into paper here in Korea?”

“...Huh?”

Guess he didn’t. I learned about it after moving back from overseas—Korean-printed books felt different, so I looked it up.

“New releases in bookstores are always stiff and bright white, right? That’s from the stone powder. There’s a reason you don’t see worm-eaten books here.”

Korean books contain over three times the powder used abroad. In extreme cases, a quarter of the book is literally stone.

No wonder my backpack weighs a ton. Not that I care—my ten-thousand-won-an-hour human backpack, Seo Ji-yeon, carries it for me.

But for Sampoong Department Store, already overloaded with products, that kind of weight would be a real concern.

A person can die if they’re crushed by books.

“...Ah, so that’s why bookstores are usually on the first floor or underground. I learned something new again today, thanks to you, young lady. Haha.”

Energized by the fact that he actually knew something for once, the manager went on about stuff I didn’t care about.

Like how restaurants in department stores are often underground because of floor heating, but top floors are better for foot traffic, so they split them... or how there are no clocks in department stores because that’s part of the business strategy...

“—So actually, the full-length mirrors in department stores are slightly tilted. You probably don’t notice since you’re naturally stunning, but the mirrors are placed at just the right angle to catch the light. It’s more effective than designer clothing—ah, I’m rambling again, aren’t I?”

“No, it’s good. Seems like you know what you’re doing. Those little details are what separate success from failure. °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° Keep it up. Especially this year—be even more careful. Got it?”

“Yes, ma’am! I’ll never forget your kindness and serve you faithfully!”

I smirked and said nothing more.

1990s Korea was all about those tiny differences. Myeongil Department Store was better off thanks to my influence and infusion of progressive standards... but still, it’s no wonder I escape abroad for vacation every chance I get.

“Hm, time to get back to work. The kids have been spending like crazy, right?”

“You mean the Orange Tribe...?”

The manager asked cautiously, watching my reaction.

Mm, I get what he’s thinking.

“It’s fine. I don’t like them either. Lumping me together with those rich brats who just happened to be born to the right parents is insulting. And besides... they’re fake aristocrats.”

I twisted my lips into a smirk as I said it.

Son of a minister here, granddaughter of a mid-tier chaebol over there...

They studied abroad and acted like they were soaked in Western culture, but they didn’t match real Western nobility in the slightest.

And they flaunted their tacky 1G cell phones like they were treasures—how could I see them in a good light?

If we have anything in common... it’s that we both show a lot of skin?

Thanks to them walking around half-naked, I only come across as a mildly eccentric person. Ten years ago, even being the chairman’s granddaughter wouldn’t have spared me sharp looks.

“...Still, you seem to enjoy their company, don’t you?”

Hmm.

Yeah, I guess that’s true. I am popular in that community. I’ll become even more famous.

After all, I did save their lives.

Their fortunes might dwindle a bit after the 21st century begins, but... that’s not more valuable than their lives, is it?

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