A Lie Has Turned Into Reality

“I think I’ve become too famous.”

A week flew by in the blink of an eye.
But it feels like my name’s value has skyrocketed over the past week.

[Title]
The Rising Big Spender, Hot Potato

[Body]
Among the big spenders who have been appearing frequently lately, Hot Potato stands out as one of the most extravagant of all time.

You all know Epic Seven, right? He’s a well-known figure in that community, famous as an “internet ghost,” haha.

So, why is he considered one of the all-time biggest spenders?

It all started with the No-Break Roulette. Every time he shows up, his donations are consistently over 10 million KRW.

But it’s not just about the donation amounts—here’s the real jaw-dropper:

(Link)

This is a post from the Epic Seven gallery.
It’s a story from someone who actually met Hot Potato in person and had a meal with him. You might want to check the link for the full details.

Here’s the shocking part:

(Photo)

First, take a look at the clothes he’s wearing—everything is luxury and limited edition.

Even his watch is a Richard Mille model, one of only nine in the country. The price of the watch alone? Over 300 million KRW.

And if that wasn’t enough, his personal car is a Rolls-Royce.

A Rolls-Royce isn’t just a car you can buy if you’re rich—it’s a brand known for its strict sales policies. If you don’t meet their standards, they simply won’t sell it to you.

Recently, it seems like he’s gotten into streaming. Whenever he appears on a major corporate streamer’s channel, his donations start at a minimum of 10 million KRW, haha.

It’s an utterly insane display of wealth, no doubt.

[Comments] (+117)

“Definitely a coin-rich guy.”

“This checks out. Totally has a new-money vibe.”

“New money couldn’t afford a Rolls-Royce. Come on, haha.”

“For real, he’d fail the qualification process immediately.”

“He probably bought it used, you moron, tsk tsk.”

“To the commenter above, calm down. That model hasn’t been out long, only a few units were imported into the country, and there are no used ones available.”

“Wow, so he’s legit.”

“Look at his outfit. Does that scream new money to you? Haha.”

“The most credible rumor is that he’s a ‘diamond spoon’ (born into extreme wealth).”

“Whatever. I’m just so jealous it makes me sick.”

“Honestly, pretty unlikable, haha.”

“Lately, there are tons of impersonators claiming to be him, lol.”

The comments were absolute chaos.

It seems his recent indulgence in flashy spending has caused quite a stir.

After making waves on large-scale broadcasts and drawing plenty of attention, Hot Potato-related conspiracy theories have now dominated the top five trending posts.

The most discussed topic is Hot Potato’s source of funds.

Honestly, I don’t know all the details about my own source of funds either.

One thing I need to clarify: the current situation is that the scattered lies have come together to form one massive reality.

The reasons I have money, my family background, all of it.

I never laid out every detail like a setting book.

I inherited some wealth, and it was called an investment.

The only thing I’ve written about why I have money is this flimsy story.

The more detailed the lies, the more holes they leave open, so I just wrote everything vaguely.

So, what I know is that I inherited my parents’ wealth, and it was called an investment.

Whether the inherited wealth is transparent or how the money was grown through investment, all the truth is still unclear.

sigh…

As I was lost in these bothersome thoughts, I let out a yawn.

I yawned loudly and scratched my cheek.

“What’s this?”

The phone rang again, so I adjusted it to check.

What’s this? It’s definitely a number I’ve never seen before.

“Hello?”

“Is this Kim Seongwoo?”

“Yes, who is this?”

I asked cautiously in a low voice.

“Ah, you changed your number again.”

As soon as he confirmed my name, the man on the other end of the line began speaking in an irritated, hushed tone.

“Who are you?”

“Are you pretending now? Nothing’s changed after all this time.”

What is he talking about, this crazy guy?

I could feel my frustration starting to rise.

‘The way he’s speaking, he definitely knows something.’

The man on the other end of the line kept pushing me, not caring.

“What do you want from me?”

“I recently got hurt, so my memory isn’t all there. Excuse me, but who are you?”

“You’re saying your memory isn’t intact because of an injury…?”

“Yes, I apologize for the inconvenience.”

It can’t be helped.

I’m not generous enough to explain my situation to someone full of hostility. I have no choice but to stubbornly insist.

I wish he’d just calm down and explain things, but as if responding to my wish, the man’s voice became calmer as he continued.

“You’re not going to tell me now that you don’t even remember your uncle’s voice, are you?”

“Uncle…?”

An uncle? I’ve never even met him once in my life.

Was something in the web of lies I made up being adjusted to fit some semblance of plausibility?

‘What the hell is going on here?’

Zing

As I tried to recall my non-existent family relationships, memories of people I didn’t even know began to flood my mind, as if they were pouring in like a river.

It felt like an electric shock, a sharp pain that made my body shudder uncontrollably like a leaf in the wind.

Clunk

The gears in my head slowly began to click into place.

Kim Gi-yong, the CEO of Montreat Hotel, and my father’s sibling.

The overflowing information was gradually absorbed and settled in my mind.

I took a moment to steady my trembling voice and continued the conversation.

“…What is this about?”

“Tsk. This Saturday, there’s a family gathering at your father’s house. Don’t even think about skipping this one, just come on time like you’re supposed to.”

“····”

“I’ve delivered the message, so I’ll hang up now. Pathetic bastard.”

I sighed deeply and rolled up my sleeves to wipe off the cold sweat dripping down.

I held on to the blurry memories and tried to piece things together again.

‘The chairman of Taewoong Group is my grandfather, and I’m the third-generation chaebol, right?’

Now the puzzle pieces started fitting together.

It had been strange from the beginning. How could an ordinary person like me have assets worth billions?

It seems the gaps created when lies turn into reality are adjusted this way.

Being a part of one of the largest corporations in South Korea makes things fit much more smoothly.

‘This Saturday…?’

A mandatory family gathering.

In my memory, my relationship with them was so bad that calling it “the worst” would almost be a compliment.

The only person I could count on as an ally was my grandfather, Chairman Kim Young-hoon of Taewoong Group.

If things had been normal, I would have definitely skipped it.

‘But ignoring this is too good an opportunity to pass up to find the information I need.’

There’s a possibility I could find the memories I need there, just like I did earlier.

Anyway, I’m not mentally fragile enough to be hurt by the insults of people I don’t even know. Running away like before is not an option.

Crack.

I clenched my fist and muttered as if in a trance.

“How much were the market caps of Taewoong Group subsidiaries again?”

Phew…

“Who knew going to see family would be this nerve-wracking?”

Vroom.

The car engine stopped. I straightened my clothes and got out of the car.

“The Chairman’s class really stands out.”

As expected, it’s the Chairman’s private residence.

It boasts a massive scale that can’t be compared to any other house around here. This is what a modern mansion should look like.

Leaving behind the luxury cars parked side by side, I walked along the magnificent garden in front of me toward the entrance.

“Are you Seongwoo?”

Flinch.

I turned around at the smooth voice.

There stood a woman in a neatly falling dress, looking at me with an annoyed expression.

Kim Ye-won, my aunt.

“Uh… nice to meet you?”

I had no appropriate response, so what else could I do?

They say you can’t spit on a smiling face. I just smiled widely and casually greeted her.

“What are you doing here? Are you trying to pick up some crumbs now?”

Her face was devoid of any smile as she sarcastically mocked me.

Really? Just for a simple greeting, she’s glaring at me like that?

If I greeted her a second time, she’d probably look ready to kill someone.

“I’m not sure if there are any crumbs left to pick up.”

“…You…”

“It was a pleasure talking to you. I’ll head in first.”

Before she could continue, I made my move, passing by her.

With every step forward, I could feel the disdainful glares piercing into me. They felt oddly familiar, as if I had returned to my hometown.

Oh, there he is. The main figure of this gathering. Chairman Kim Young-hoon of Taewoong Group was sitting at the highest seat.

Despite the wrinkles etched from a life filled with hardship and his completely gray hair, his eyes still burned with the fiery gaze of a true company owner.

Admiring his imposing presence, I observed him like a tiger.

‘Ah, our eyes met.’

Before things could get awkward, I quickly bowed my head to greet him.

When I lifted my head slightly, his face showed clear signs of surprise.

I was dragged here by force after being called, and now every time he meets someone, he reacts as though he’s seen a ghost.

“It’s been a long time, Grandpa.”

“·····”

He looked at me in stunned silence, his expression blank.

This is really uncomfortable.

I had crawled into the tiger’s den to gather some information, but it seems like I’ve come to the wrong place.

I wonder why he’s taking so long to say something.

“Well… have you managed to calm down a bit?”

“Yes, I can’t be hanging onto the past forever.”

I replied indifferently and observed his face carefully.

Looking at the guilt etched deeply into his expression, it’s clear that something is weighing on him…

It seems like I’ll have to do that thing again.

I tried to revive the memories from a few days ago, desperately trying to remind myself of my relationship with Grandpa, almost as if brainwashing myself.

Crunch.

Huh?

“AAAH!!”

“Seongwoo!! You idiot, get a hold of yourself!!!”

The pain was so intense, incomparable to anything I’d felt before, and my body twisted and collapsed onto the floor.

Ah—

Now I understand.

The unnaturally sharp-edged relatives. Even Grandpa, shivering with guilt as though he had committed a mortal sin.

Now it all makes sense.

My parents’ death wasn’t just a simple traffic accident.