1بخش

In my town, we had a game called the “Squid Game.

We called it that because it’s played in a court shaped like a squid.

The rules are simple.

Children are divided into two groups, the offense and the defense.

Once the game starts, the defense can run around on two feet within bounds, while the offense outside the lines are only allowed to hop on one foot.

It’s your mom.

But if an attacker cuts through the waist of the squid passing defense, then they are given freedom to use both feet.

Inspector royal.

Inspector royal.

For whatever reason, we called that the inspector royal.

When we were ready for the final battle, all the attackers gathered at the entrance to the squid.

Go.

In order to win, the attackers must tap the small closed-off space on the squid’s head with their foot.

But if someone on the defense manages to push you outside of the squid’s boundaries, you die.

That’s right.

You die.

Victory!

Victory.

Once you tap the squid’s head, you win and yell out, “Victory.

At that moment, I felt as if I owned the entire world, exhilarated.

Is this my daily allowance or what?

No.

Remember, Ga-yeong’s birthday is today?

Yeah, Of course, I do.

And don’t forget, go and get her, uh, something for dinner later.

Well, I can’t buy her a nice meal with these much.

Times are tough.

Ga-yeong loves fried chicken, you know.

Go buy her some fried chicken.

Just chicken, Mom?

Don’t you think I should get a present for her?

Give me some more, huh?

I’m broke.

What are you talking about?

I gave you everything I made chauffeuring.

Oh, please, that petty change?

Hey, we can’t even pay your loan’s monthly interest off with that.

We can’t do that now, and we barely spend anything.

Let’s use some when we have to.

Goodness.

Oh.

And will you stop working so much?

Make sure you soak the dishes after you’re done.

You don’t even make that much, plus you’re pulling your back out!

Huh?

Hey.

It should be my birthday.

Pin number changed on you, huh?

I guess your mother finally abandoned you.

Hold on.

Huh?

Oh, shit.

What did that woman change it to, huh?

Try her birthday or, or something.

Her birthday?

Her birthday.

Um, uh.

You’re telling me you don’t know your own mother’s birthday?

Any kid knows that.

Hey!

Don’t say that.

I do know.

She celebrates it going by the lunar date, meaning it’s not the same every year.

Use your brain for once.

Then put in the lunar date.

Come on.

Work!

Oh, goddamn it!

Oh, shit.

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hold on.

They’ll block your card if you get it wrong again.

You really gotta think about this one.

Please select the amount you would like to withdraw.

Oh!

What was it?

Your birthday?

My kid’s.

It’s today.

Ah!

The old woman cares about her granddaughter more than her own son.

Ah, shit.

Number nine.

Go, go, go.

Come on!

Come on!

Come on!

Go, go!

Go!

Yeah, come on.

Go!

Go!

Go, go!

Let’s go.

Let’s go!

Go!

Go!

Faster!

You told me that I was gonna win this.

damn it!

Stupid little jerk.

How could you lose with an animal like that?

Attention.

Betting for the tenth race is about to end.

Please place your final bet.

Hey, man, hurry up, will you, please?

is about to end.

Please place your final bet.

Hey, buddy.

Hey, what are you

hey, don’t touch me!

How about you leave me alone?

Can’t you see I’m trying to think?

Okay.

number 9 Baekil Legend is placed right in the middle.

go

faster

go go come on

go come on

go

go

ok

go on

faster

go

faster

faster

Come on.

Go!

Go!

Go six and eight!

six and eight!

six and eight!

six and eight!

six and eight!

go six and eight!

that’s right.

I did it, man.

Why did you choose six, anyway?

Today’s June 8th.

Six and eight!

The day my daughter was born!

Four and a half million won.

Oh, thanks so much.

Here.

A little something for you.

Thanks again.

What do I get?

Come on!

Hey, wait up for me, asshole!

I hope you’re excited.

I’ll pick you up after school, okay?

Fried chicken?

Hey, you can get something really expensive tonight, huh!

Don’t worry about the price at all, okay?

Think about what you wanna eat and make me a list during recess.

Okay, honey?

I’ll see you at seven then.

Guess what I’m getting for the birthday girl

Look forward to it.

You’re not gonna believe what.

Hey!

Hey, Gi-hun!

Hey!

Long time no see, huh!

Hey, Ga-yeong, hold on, right.

I love you too.

Okay, bye.

Huh?

Hey, hey, hey.

He’s running!

Get him!

Excuse me.

Coming through.

Sorry.

I’m sorry.

Hey, kid, you okay?

Shit!

I’m sorry.

Hey, get him!

Get him!

Over there!

Over there!

Wait a minute.

Let me stand up.

Okay.

Just Look, I got cash for real.

Oh, yeah?

Then why did you run, huh?

Because I.

I, I’ve been saving up so I.

I could pay you all the ones that I took.

Goodness, what a trooper.

Look at you.

So then, how much you got?

Four million.

Take this amount now.

I’ll pay the rest next month, so.

What.

Oh!

Hey, kid, you okay?

Oh.

Let me see.

Come on, let me see.

Poor thing.

Ahh.

Got a sweet taste of it.

I guess you’re still eating well.

Spending the money you know is mine.

I swear I had it.

I had it, I had your money.

Look, I bet on six and eight and they won, so I had the cash right here.

Hey.

Do you know why nosebleeds are so easy to get, huh?

Because there are so many capillaries.

Oh, no.

Hey, don’t do this.

I don’t wanna die.

Your blood was tasty.

I think my boys and I should make a nice delicious soup in it.

I’ll pay you!

I’ll pay you.

I mean it.

I’ll pay you.

Jesus, guy.

Don’t make me feel sorry for you with all that crying.

How did you know I was such a softie?

Hey.

Okay, wipe off your tears.

Sign here and your fingerprint.

If you don’t pay it off by next month, I’ll take one of your kidneys.

And then after that, I’ll take one of your eyes.

Okay?

You don’t like it?

No, uh, I got it.

Yeah.

Next month is good with me.

Here.

Okay.

Well, I, I need ink.

There, you got your ink.

It’s all natural too.

Huh?

Oh.

That’s it.

Right there.

You did it, huh!

You have one month.

Take care of yourself.

Uh, hold on.

Sir, excuse me.

I’m sorry to even ask but.

may I please borrow 10,000 won?

You little.

Forget it.

Excuse me.

Sorry to do this.

Uh.

Can I get back that 10,000?

Come on.

Ah shit.

Ah.

Come on.

That’s it, that’s it.

That’s right.

Ah!

Goddamn it!

Excuse me, sir.

You need to stop and pick the prize you want first.

Does that help you?

Ah.

Ah.

That’s it.

Good.

Yes, that’s it.

Oh!

Yay!

Yay!

Great job!

Thank you.

Thank you!

Yay!

Oh, this?

It’s a huge mosquito bite, that’s all.

Mosquitoes are really mean these days.

Yeah.

Dad, you can be in all of the fights that you want, but don’t get hurt too bad.

I’m sorry, sweetie.

I really am.

You know, I wanted to buy you a nicer dinner than this.

It’s okay.

We went with my stepdad to a steakhouse earlier, so.

A steak, huh?

That’s nice of him.

Well, I still want tteokbokki a lot more, though.

I’m not allowed to have it at home.

Mom says it’s junk food.

Eat up then.

Oh, my gosh.

Surprise.

Ga-yeong, I got your present right here.

You know why, huh?

These days, even women go to war.

I mean, when you finally get older, there’s not gonna be that kind of discrimination like we got now.

And you’ll need to get used to this pretty soon, you know.

Ah.

Oh, plus, it’s a lighter.

Looks like the real deal, doesn’t it?

I think you’ll get in trouble with Mom again if she saw me holding this.

Is that right?

I’ll keep it then, just till you get a little bit older.

Okay?

Hey, don’t smoke of it, though.

Oh, come on, I’m clean now.

All right.

All right.

I’ll make sure I’ll stop smoking for real.

And you’ll see next year, huh,

I’ll get an awesome present for you, okay?

Ga-yeong, I swear.

Next year?

Last year, you had a birthday.

This one came right around, right?

And the next one will be quick.

Um, Dad?

Hmm?

Shoot.

Nothing.

Okay.

Come on, come on.

Have more tteokbokki.

Excuse me, sir, one more order, okay?

And mix it with some of that in.

Why did you bring her back so late?

She’s not dressed for the cold.

Oh, she got sleepy, I carried her.

We’re ten minutes late at most.

Okay?

I said I’d drive down to get her, didn’t I?

It’s her birthday.

Let’s not yell.

Mom.

Oh.

Hey, Ga-yeong, hey, get down.

I’ll carry her to the elevator if you don’t mind, okay?

She can walk on her own.

Mom.

Ga-yeong, get down.

Ah, jeez.

Seriously.

All right.

Let’s go.

Bye, Dad.

Go on in.

Good night.

Ah, wait a minute!

Hey, open the door!

Ah, shit!

Hello, sir.

Can I talk to you?

I don’t believe in Jesus.

It’s not that.

Listen, I wanna let you in on a great opportunity to.

I come from a very long line of Buddhists, so find another guy to preach to.

Mister, Would you like to play a game with me?

Who are you?

Salesman, huh?

You people have all kinds of tactics.

And I know you’re only doing your job, but I really don’t have time to sit here.

I’m sure you’ve played ddakji before, right?

Play a few round of ddakji with me.

And each time you win, I’ll pay you a 100,000 won.

Wait, so if I hit your ddakji, and it flips over, I get a 100,000 won?

And if I can flip yours, you will give me the exact same amount of money.

You can also be the first to play.

Hey, look, I had a bad day today.

You pull a scam or you rip me off, well, then, I’ll.

I’ll kill you, huh?

So then it’s my turn, eh?

So which color do you wanna play as?

Shh.