Chapter 2: A Father's First Challenge

The pounding on the door grew louder, accompanied by the landlord's gruff voice.

"Ryu Seo-woo! If you don't open this door right now, I'll break it down myself!"

Seo-woo flinched but quickly moved to open the door, forcing a nervous smile onto his face. The landlord, a burly man with a permanent scowl, stood in the doorway with his arms crossed.

"Two months," the landlord barked. "You're behind on rent for two whole months! I've been more than patient, but I'm not running a charity here. If you don't have the money by next week, you're out!"

Seo-woo's heart raced. "I... I just need a little more time," he stammered, bowing his head. "Please, just one more week. I promise I'll pay."

The landlord raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "One more week? You've been saying that for months now. Why should I believe you this time?"

Before Seo-woo could answer, a small voice cut through the tension. "Because he's going to pay, with interest."

Both men turned to see Seo-jun standing in the hallway, his arms crossed and his expression calm but commanding. Despite his small stature, the boy exuded an air of authority that made even the landlord hesitate.

"And who are you?" the landlord asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Seo-jun," the boy replied evenly. "Five-year-old kindergarten student. If you give us one more week, we'll not only pay the rent but also compensate you for your trouble. It's a better deal than forcing us out now and losing a tenant altogether."

The landlord blinked, momentarily speechless. Seo-woo stared at his son, amazed. Where had this confidence come from? And... was Seo-jun negotiating?

"You think a little kid can guarantee that?" the landlord scoffed, though his tone was less aggressive.

"I can," Seo-jun said firmly. "If this guy doesn't deliver, you can take it out on him. But he will deliver."

The landlord studied Seo-jun for a moment, then let out a heavy sigh. "Fine. One more week, so you have two weeks to pay. But if I don't have my money by then, you're all out. Understood?"

Seo-jun nodded curtly. "Understood."

As the landlord turned and walked away, muttering under his breath, Seo-woo sank to his knees in relief. "Seo-jun..." he began, his voice trembling. "How did you do that?"

"It's basic logic," Seo-jun said matter-of-factly. "He's a businessman. I gave him a better option than evicting us."

A soft chime caught Seo-woo's attention, and he looked up to see a new status window hovering beside his son.

STATUS WINDOW: SEO-JUN

Name: Ryu Seo-jun

Age: 5

Health Status: Good

Talent Skills:

· Business Acumen: S

· Negotiation: A+

· Leadership: A

Seo-woo's jaw dropped. "Business acumen? Negotiation? Leadership? Seo-jun, you... you're amazing!"

Seo-jun's eyes widened slightly at the praise, but he quickly looked away, his cheeks tinged with a faint pink. "It's nothing," he muttered.

"It's not nothing," Seo-woo insisted, pulling his son into a tight hug. "You saved us. Thank you."

Seo-jun stiffened at the unexpected affection but didn't pull away. Seo-woo's eyes darted to his other two sons, who had been watching silently. As he looked at Seo-min, a new status window appeared.

STATUS WINDOW: SEO-MIN

Name: Ryu Seo-min

Age: 5

Health Status: Good

Talent Skills:

· Artistry: S

· Music Composition: A+

· Creativity: A

Seo-woo blinked in disbelief at the window floating beside Seo-min. His second son, with his calm demeanor and sharp eyes, had a talent for art and music? Seo-woo's heart swelled with pride and guilt all at once. He'd barely noticed these incredible abilities in his children, let alone nurtured them.

"Seo-min..." Seo-woo murmured. "You're gifted in music and art?"

Seo-min frowned slightly, unsure of how to respond. "I like drawing and making songs," he admitted, his tone hesitant. "It's nothing special."

"Nothing special?" Seo-woo exclaimed, crouching to his level. "It's incredible. I can't believe your fath— I mean I never noticed how talented you are."

Seo-min's lips pressed into a thin line, and he looked away. "You never cared before."

The words hit Seo-woo like a physical blow, and he reached out to place a hand on his son's shoulder. "You're right. I didn't care before (You are insane, original Ryu Seo-woo). But I do now. I promise I'll make it up to you."

Seo-min hesitated, then gave a small nod. Seo-woo turned to the youngest, Seo-jin, who was watching the interaction with a sharp, calculating gaze that seemed out of place for his age.

"Seo-jin," Seo-woo started softly, "I bet you're amazing too."

As if on cue, another status window appeared.

STATUS WINDOW: SEO-JIN

Name: Ryu Seo-jin

Age: 5

Health Status: Good

Talent Skills:

· Programming: S

· Hacking: A+

· Problem Solving: A

Seo-woo's mouth fell open. Programming? Hacking? At five years old? He could barely believe his eyes. "Seo-jin, you're... a genius in technology?"

Seo-jin raised an eyebrow, his tone as dry as ever. "I just like solving puzzles and fixing things."

Seo-woo laughed, his heart swelling with a mix of pride and disbelief. "You're all amazing," he said, pulling the triplets into a group hug despite their squirming protests. "I can't believe I've been so blind (Your real father was so blind not to love you)."

The three boys exchanged confused glances. Seo-woo's sudden warmth and praise were unsettling, but a small part of them—deep down—felt... nice.

For the first time, Seo-woo felt a flicker of hope. He had a long road ahead to win back his sons' trust and rebuild their lives, but seeing their potential gave him the determination he needed. These boys weren't just highly intellectual; they were his miracle.

"Alright," Seo-woo said, standing up and dusting off his pants. "First things first, we're going to tackle those quests."

The triplets stared at him in confusion. "Quests?" Seo-jun asked, tilting his head.

Seo-woo grinned, determination sparking in his eyes. "I mean, cooking and cleaning."

The clock was ticking, and the landlord's deadline loomed, but Seo-woo was ready. With his triplets by his side, he'd rewrite the story of their lives—even if it meant defying the original novel's fate.

Seo-woo's stomach growled in protest, reminding him he hadn't eaten anything since waking up in this world. As he mulled over his next steps, the sharp ringtone of a phone broke the silence. Startled, he searched the cluttered room before finally spotting a cracked smartphone half-buried under a pile of junk.

He hesitated before picking it up. The name flashing on the screen sent a pang through his chest: Agent Oh.

Seo-woo swallowed hard, his hand trembling as he answered the call.

"Hello?" he croaked, wincing at the grating sound of his voice.

"Seo-woo," Agent Oh's voice was curt, tinged with pity. "I've been trying to reach you. Are you feeling better?"

Original Ryu Seo-woo's agent?

Seo-woo forced himself to respond. "I'm... fine. What's going on?"

There was a pause before Agent Oh sighed heavily. "Look, I'll get straight to the point. The company's terminating your contract. With your vocal cords in this state, you're no longer viable as a singer. They've prepared the paperwork. You need to come in tomorrow to sign it."

The words hit Seo-woo like a punch to the gut. He gripped the edge of the table, trying to steady himself. "Terminate... my contract?"

"You know this was coming," Agent Oh said, his tone softer now. "I'm sorry, but this is business. Take care of yourself, alright?"

The line went dead before Seo-woo could respond. He stared at the phone, the gravity of the situation sinking in. His singing career—the one thing that had defined his life—was officially over.

But as despair threatened to overwhelm him, Seo-woo clenched his fists. "No," he whispered to himself. "This isn't the end. I have a chance to fix everything. I'll get my voice back... no matter what it takes."

He glanced at the glowing status window still hovering in the air. The cooking quest was still available, and completing it would bring him closer to activating his singing skills. Seo-woo straightened his back, determination hardening his features.

"Alright, kids," he called out, his voice raspier than he liked. "Stay in the living room. I'm making dinner tonight."

The triplets peeked out from the doorway, their expressions skeptical.

"You? Cooking?" Seo-jin quipped, raising an eyebrow. "Isn't that dangerous?"

Seo-woo ignored the jab, rolling up his sleeves. "Just wait and see. I'll prove to you I can do this."

In the cramped, poorly-stocked kitchen, Seo-woo surveyed his options. There wasn't much—some rice, a few eggs, and a sad-looking bunch of green onions. But he wasn't about to let that stop him.

He got to work, his movements clumsy at first. He struggled with the dull knife, accidentally spilled rice on the counter, and nearly burned the eggs. But slowly, the aroma of a simple but hearty meal began to fill the air.

Seo-jun wandered into the kitchen, his nose twitching. "Smells... okay," he muttered begrudgingly.

Seo-woo smiled, wiping sweat from his brow. "Just wait until you taste it."

By the time he finished, he'd prepared a modest but presentable meal: fried rice with egg and green onion. He set the plates on the table and gestured for the boys to sit.

"Try it," Seo-woo urged, his heart pounding as he watched them take their first bites.

The triplets exchanged glances, their expressions shifting from caution to mild surprise.

"It's... edible," Seo-min admitted, taking another bite.

"It's actually pretty good," Seo-jin added, though his tone was begrudging.

Seo-woo's chest swelled with pride. He'd done it—he'd cooked for his kids, something the original Seo-woo had likely never bothered to do.

As the boys ate, a familiar chime rang out. Seo-woo froze as a new window appeared before him.

[QUEST COMPLETE]:

Prepare a meal for your children.

Rewards: +10 Parenting, +5 Health Recovery

[STATUS WINDOW UPDATED]

Name: Ryu Seo-woo

Age: 27

Health Status: Slightly Improved (Malnutrition Decreasing)

Financial Status: Debt Accumulated (2 months rent overdue: need to pay within two weeks with interest, additional personal loans outstanding)

Talent Skills:

- Singing: S+ (Condition to Activate: Completing 50 quests) (1/50)

- Parenting: C+

- Cooking: C

- Charisma: B

Quests Available:

- Prepare a meal for your children (Reward: +10 Parenting, +5 Health Recovery) (Accomplished)

- Go for a walk with your children (Reward: +5 Charisma, +5 Health Recovery)

Seo-woo stared at the window, a spark of hope igniting in his chest. His efforts were paying off. The slight improvement in his health and the increase in his skills gave him a newfound determination.

"Dad?" Seo-jun's hesitant voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

Seo-woo blinked, realizing all three boys were watching him with curious expressions.

"Thanks for cooking," Seo-jun said awkwardly, his tone softer than before.

Seo-woo's heart clenched. He nodded, forcing a smile. "Anytime."

He had a long way to go, but for the first time since waking up in this world, Seo-woo felt like he was moving forward. He wasn't just surviving—he was beginning to live.