The village of Seongcheon lay peacefully cradled between rolling green hills and winding rivers, a place where time seemed to slow down. Small wooden houses with tiled roofs dotted the landscape, surrounded by golden rice paddies swaying gently in the breeze. The air was crisp and fresh, carrying the faint scent of earth and pine. Here, life moved at a rhythm dictated by the seasons, and the villagers knew each other by name.
Among them lived a boy named Joon. His days were quiet, marked by the familiar routine of village life. But unlike his friends, who spent their afternoons running through fields or playing soccer by the river, Joon found his joy indoors. His room was modest but cozy, lit by the soft glow of a small desk lamp. Stacks of manhwa comics and novels filled every corner, while posters of anime heroes and fantastical worlds adorned the walls.
Joon's world existed mostly in the stories he devoured — tales of heroes, battles, mysteries, and dreams. He longed for something more, a chance to break free from the simplicity of village life and carve out a path of his own. The books and shows ignited his imagination, but he knew that dreaming alone would not be enough.
Each night before he slept, Joon whispered a wish into the quiet darkness:
"If only I had a system. Something—anything—that could help me become the person I want to be. A trader who masters the stock market, a footballer who scores the winning goal, a scientist who changes the world, or even something no one else has ever dared to try."
He imagined a glowing window floating next to him, giving quests, rewards, and knowledge—a guide that could make his dreams real. But in Seongcheon, such things existed only in the pages of his books and the scenes of his favorite shows.
One chilly autumn evening, when the sun had dipped behind the hills and the village was wrapped in a soft blanket of twilight, Joon sat quietly at his desk. The wind whispered through the cracks in the wooden window frame, carrying the scent of damp earth and wood smoke.
His eyes flicked across the pages of a manhwa, but his mind wandered. What if his wish could come true? What if, somehow, something changed tonight?
A sudden flicker of light caught his attention. He looked up, startled.
Right before him, suspended in the air, a translucent window shimmered softly—a glowing interface of blue and silver, edges gently pulsing with light.
[SYSTEM INITIALIZED]
Welcome, Joon.
A system has been granted to you.
Choose your first profession to begin your journey.
Joon's heart raced as he reached out a trembling hand toward the floating window. It was unlike anything he had ever seen—no phone, no screen, just a spectral glow hovering in his small room.
His fingers passed through it once, twice, but then he felt a faint warmth. The system responded to his presence.
The interface displayed a list:
[PROFESSION OPTIONS:]
Trader
Footballer
Scientist
Cricketer
Others (customize later)
Joon stared at the choices, excitement and disbelief swirling inside him. This was more than he had dared to hope. The chance to become anything, to forge his own destiny—it was finally within reach.
He thought carefully. Trader—he had always been fascinated by money and markets, even though he knew little about them. Footballer or cricketer—sports were popular in the village, and he often dreamed of scoring goals in a packed stadium. Scientist—something that could change the world, like the heroes in his novels.
But for now, one step at a time.
With a deep breath, Joon tapped the glowing option labeled Trader.
[PROFESSION SELECTED: TRADER]
Starting Capital: ₩500,000
Stat Points: 3
Stats:
Negotiation: 2
Market Insight: 1
Stamina: 0
A small chime echoed softly as the system window refreshed, now showing his new stats and capital.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Welcome, Trader Joon.
Your journey begins now.
Quest Received: Study the Stock Market Basics
Reward: 20 XP
Joon smiled wide, the nervous excitement bubbling inside him turning into determination. He pulled out his tablet, eager to dive into articles and videos explaining how stocks worked. Terms like "bull market," "bear market," "dividends," and "capital gains" soon became familiar words on his tongue.
Hours passed like minutes. The simple room faded away as Joon's mind filled with graphs, numbers, and strategies. For the first time, the world felt a little bigger—full of possibility.
He glanced at the glowing system window, seeing the quest progress bar steadily fill.
[QUEST COMPLETED: STUDY THE STOCK MARKET BASICS]
XP Gained: 20
Current XP: 20 / 100
Joon knew this was only the beginning. The system promised more challenges, more growth, and more chances to shape his future.
For the first time, he felt that his wish was coming true.
And as the village settled into night, the glowing system window pulsed softly beside him, waiting for the next step.