The new year dawned, and it was 2040. Suho had turned thirty-one as well.
"Man... 2040, huh. Honestly, I used to think that by 2040 we'd be in a sci-fi future... but looking back now, it feels like less of a big deal than I expected."
Well, androids had become part of everyday life, and all sorts of EVTOLs flew through the skies, so I guess this was pretty futuristic.
But we still hadn't solved the energy problem, had we? If it weren't for Suho, we'd still be absolutely dependent on nuclear power.
A lot had happened in just the two years since 2038.
From an ordinary unemployed job-seeker to Korea's hero, Japan's benefactor, and the savior of the world.
He had started out as a fake, but awakened as an Admitti,
visited the UN, the Blue House, and the White House.
He had befriended a dragon, a griffin, and many S-grade Add friends.
He became the wealthiest person on earth and built the most powerful clan in the world,
and constructed a house with the highest security rating and the greatest luxury on earth. What should have taken at least five years was completed in just over a year.
And... though still in progress, he was building a new city that would surpass Seoul,
and had solved the global energy problem.
The environmental problems had been largely resolved along with it.
He had also stepped in to fill the gaps in South Korea's welfare system meticulously, among many other things.
It had been eventful, but thoroughly rewarding two years.
Watching the majestic sunrise at Kilimanjaro from the peak of Everest—where he had placed a dimensional gate so he could go anytime—as if heaven and earth were becoming one, Suho made a New Year's resolution.
To spend this year more enjoyably, more substantially, more rewardingly.
* * *
With the activation of Suho's nationwide welfare system,
the extreme poor identified by the AI of Suho's special team could no longer be found.
Before the government could even expand welfare policies and try anything, Suho had already filled more holes.
A country where no one starved, and not a single vulnerable class lacked the minimum standard of living.
This was unprecedented, both globally and in human history.
Even Switzerland and Norway, with their extensive welfare systems and dense social safety nets, often had people in socially unstable groups—immigrants, refugees, low-income laborers in remote rural areas—who struggled to maintain basic living due to the inability to afford high costs of living and rent.
In South Korea, there were now no such people belonging to the low-income vulnerable class, that is, the socially marginalized.
Korea's welfare had no blind spots, like illuminating all four sides of a room where shadows inevitably form no matter how one shines light, so that not a single shadow could remain.
Support for those such as elderly living alone with children who didn't take care of them, or child welfare institution dischargees, had grown so thorough that it was commonly said, "In South Korea, it's much better to be alone than to have incompetent parents or children."
For the marginalized classes that were uncovered, support was provided not only in the form of money, but communities were created and operated, and technical or settlement-related educational institutions were run to systematically help them become proud members of society.
He proposed large-scale public housing construction, housing repair and remodeling projects, medical support, job creation, and free legal aid to the government, which were readily accepted.
Since the money Suho had entrusted was enormous, his voice carried great weight.
Suho looked at the status report with satisfaction and spoke to the overseeing AI.
"Good. Now maintaining this is what's important. Monitor it constantly. Report immediately if any variables arise."
"Understood."
"And keep checking whether anything severely overlaps with government or charitable organization sponsorships."
"Understood."
At least within the surrounding area, it seemed no one would go hungry.
* * *
"Oppa, when are we going to Japan!? Right now, let's go as soon as possible, okay?"
"Ugh, why are you constantly going on about Japan these days. We can just go and come back."
It had been several days since Suji followed Suho around like a shadow, begging for a "family trip to Japan,"
and of course, the family received enormous living expenses and allowance from Suho, so it wasn't that they lacked money—it was a trip abroad they could take anytime they wanted—but Suji had a different motive.
"They say Japan gave you a building this time too, so we have to see it, right? Aren't you curious, Oppa?"
"Ah... what's so special about it? It's a hassle..."
"Still, Oppa, you shouldn't be like that. You have to go at least once to appreciate the Japanese government's sincerity!"
"Be honest, is that really your purpose...?"
But since even their mother and father took Suji's side, Suho decided to relent and play along.
He scheduled it for about two weeks later and contacted Japan as well.
He had considered going by luxury yacht but switched to a private jet to save time, choosing the largest aircraft among his private jets to take.
And on the day.
The day Suho, his family, and the Ultimate Line clan members departed together and arrived in Japan, Narita International Airport was packed to bursting.
On a gigantic monitor, the welcome message prepared by the Japanese government flashed brilliantly,
and hundreds of reporters and tens of thousands of people had flooded in to fill the airport.
Strict security personnel were deployed throughout the airport's waiting area, and all immigration procedures were temporarily suspended.
All of this was thoroughly prepared by the Japanese government to receive Suho as a state guest, hailing him as a national hero.
"Wow... look at all these people..."
"Oh my..."
As Suho, his family, and the group landed in the large private jet, high-ranking Japanese government officials were waiting before them.
Among them, the Prime Minister welcomed Suho with a beaming face.
"Heroes who saved Japan, welcome to Japan from the bottom of our hearts."
At the somewhat embarrassing praise, Suho briefly averted his gaze, then nodded simply and accepted the greeting.
The dedicated limousines prepared for Suho and everyone departed the airport under police escort, heading toward central Tokyo.
The crowds filling the airport waved pickets and flags and cheered until the vehicles were out of sight, and only when they finally left the airport did Suho let out a breath of relief.
"Aww, that was utter chaos... now I can finally breathe."
But thinking that was the end was a mistake.
When the vehicle carrying Suho's group stopped in front of a luxury building in the heart of Tokyo's bustling district, crowds packed around the building stood by the roadside holding pickets with Suho and Ultimate Clan's names written on them, cheering wildly.
There were so many fanatical people that police and security guards once again had to push through the crowd to clear a path.
This building was a residence specially prepared and awarded to Suho by the Japanese government; the magnificent 50-story structure was designed to overlook the open scenery of Tokyo, and its exterior stood out with a design harmonizing traditional Japanese beauty with modern sensibility.
The interior was even more splendid. The ceilings decorated with gold leaf and the interior adorned with delicate woodwork conveyed the meticulous consideration of the Japanese government and imperial household.
Inside, many attendants in traditional clothing were waiting, and a representative of the Japanese Imperial Household was also present.
"This building is yours, Suho. What Japan has prepared to repay you is meager, but... please accept our sincerity and good faith."
"Thank you so much for welcoming us."
As Suho responded to the Prime Minister's greeting and bowed his head, the Prime Minister's face brightened as well.
"Please enjoy everything available here. Japan is your second homeland."
Papapapapat-
Somehow having received approval and chased all the way to the building entrance, reporters snapped photos of the scene without rest. Tomorrow's newspapers would likely be filled with this on the front page.
From the attendants' explanation, the building was originally a luxury hotel called "The Ritz Hayaton Tokyo," but the Japanese government had purchased it to honor a national hero and presented it to Suho.
In truth, for Suho, his family, and Ultimate Line members who lived at Elysium Heights enjoying the pinnacle of luxury as if it were daily life, even a good hotel wasn't particularly impressive; nevertheless, handing over an entire luxury hotel in such a short time was a special, symbolic gift reflecting the Japanese government's determination to show how much they honored Suho.
Everyone unpacked in their respective rooms after being guided up.
Suho's room was the Platinum Suite on the building's top floor.
It was decorated with a high-class interior blending traditional Japanese style with modern sensibility, and beyond the glass wall wrapping an entire side of the room, the scenery of Tokyo Tower and Shibuya unfolded.
While unpacking and looking around the room, something was delivered to the room on a cart.
It turned out to be a set of samurai armor, a symbol of Japan's traditional culture.
It was said to have been crafted in the same manner as that worn by important military commanders in Japanese history, and the gift set also included two katanas made by master artisans.
"Wow... this is really cool. Thank you."
"We're delighted you like it. Thank you."
At Suho's words, the attendants who had delivered it bowed their heads repeatedly with bright faces and withdrew.
Hearing that there would be a welcome dinner prepared by the Japanese Imperial Household in the evening and that he should rest well until then, Suho flopped onto the bed.
Whoever the artisan was who carved them, there were many wonderful decorations on the ceiling as well.
The feeling was strange.
He had only been to Japan once before on a graduation trip in college... to think he would come a second time like this.
Back then, it had been a package tour and funds were tight, so he couldn't even buy proper gifts for his family... he remembered scraping together what little money he had, pathetic as it was, and buying a gift only for Yangwon.
The more he looked back, the more pathetic those days seemed.
Ah, of course, he had come a few more times for tower raids and to deliver Etherium for ether power generation, but those were too ambiguous to call trips, so let's exclude them.
Besides Suho and his family, all clan members of Ultimate Line had been invited and participated,
and for Haruto Takeda, an S-grade Buffer originally from Japan, this held truly special meaning.
It was quite a long time ago now... when Takeda decided to naturalize in Korea to join Ultimate Line, all of Japan had fiercely denounced him.
Because he had been in a very important position in Japanese Admitti society as a rare S-grade Buffer, yet abandoned his Japanese nationality and left for Korea.
That decision had caused a huge shock in Japanese society at the time, and the media was plastered with countless denunciations and criticisms.
It wasn't just Takeda; most S-grades from other countries who decided to naturalize in Korea probably faced similar situations.
Anyway, when Takeda led his entire family and left Japan, the gaze of the media and public toward him was nothing but cold.
Most Japanese branded him a traitor, and his name was treated almost as a taboo within Japan.
The Japanese government also issued an entry ban to ensure Takeda could never set foot on Japanese soil again, invalidating his Japanese passport and related visas.
But now everything had changed.
After Suho and Ultimate Line saved all of Japan, Takeda's position was now reevaluated as having played an important role in building a bridge between the two nations.
Even the atmosphere at the welcome dinner in central Tokyo was completely different.
High-ranking Japanese officials approached him first to greet him and praise his contributions.
Among them, the Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee who had been the most active in burying Takeda bowed at the waist and spoke politely to him.
"Add Takeda, I believe I was far too rude in the past... without you, today's Japan might not have survived. Thank you for building a bridge between Korea and Japan. All wrongful measures have already been rectified. If you could generously forgive our past mistakes now..."
Takeda simply smiled faintly and extended his hand to him.
As the man grasped his hand with an emotional expression, Takeda even lightly patted his shoulder.
Countless cameras at the dinner reported this, and most of the press covered how Japanese society had come to accept Takeda once again.
└ In the end, he was right.
└ Takeda played the role of a bridge. If it weren't for Takeda, would Ultimate Line have stepped up this much?
└ You bastards who called him a traitor, bash your heads. I'm already bashing mine.
└ He is a true patriot.
└ One isn't enough. Ultimate Line, take a few more Japanese S-grades!
└ It's hilarious how those who cursed him so much are turning on a dime now. But if it's this kind of funny matter, I welcome it.
The next day, while the family and clan members toured Japan, Suho was dragged here and there, receiving explanations about the special economic zone provided for him to operate in Japan and the exclusive contract opportunities for Japanese strategic businesses.
Only on the third day was Suho finally freed and able to participate in sightseeing,
He was so mentally exhausted that he wanted to go home now... but seeing his excited family and clan members, especially Takeda who looked so happy, he couldn't bring himself to say so.
'Tsk... since I'm here anyway, might as well endure a few more days.'
However, the travel course prepared by the Japanese government centered on major sites showcasing Japan's tradition and modern development, so he lightly refused. He couldn't stand history-lesson tourism.
Suho abruptly headed to Tokyo Disneyland.