It was a crisp Friday morning in Seongcheon. The rain had finally cleared, leaving dew-speckled leaves shimmering under the sunlight. Joon arrived at school early, his backpack slung lazily over one shoulder. For the first time in a long while, he didn't feel like just another quiet background character in someone else's story.
He felt… awake.
The System Window hovered quietly beside him, as always invisible to others. Since completing the last quest, it had been silent. But Joon could sense something was brewing.
During math class, while his teacher explained logarithmic scales, Joon was mentally calculating percentage returns on his MoonSeong Energy shares.
MoonSeong Energy: ₩4,650 (+16.25%)
His eyes widened slightly. His timing had been perfect.
The solar panel announcement had stirred just enough optimism to move the market. And he had been ahead of it.
He waited until lunch break to open the app. His shares had gone up by ₩650 each.
Sell 10 shares of MoonSeong Energy at ₩4,650 each
Buy price: ₩4,000 → Profit per share: ₩650
Total Profit: ₩6,500
Total Received: ₩46,500
Updated Capital: ₩65,550
Quest Completed: Make a Profitable Forecast-Based Trade+50 XP
Current XP: 110 / 300
He allowed himself a satisfied smile.
It wasn't a huge amount of money, not yet. But the principle? That was priceless. He had trusted his research, moved early, and reaped the reward.
That evening, he stopped by the convenience store on his way home. He hadn't bought himself a snack in days. Everything had gone into the market.
He stared at a triangle gimbap, then at a packet of ramen.
He picked both.
₩3,000 spent
Remaining Capital: ₩62,550
As he sat outside on a bench, eating warm instant noodles, the System suddenly pinged.
New Quest Available: Personal Reward
Objective: Spend a portion of your trading profits on something for yourself.
Reward: +10 XP
Quest Completed: Personal Reward+10 XP
Current XP: 120 / 300
Joon blinked. That was unexpected.
"…So you don't want me to live like a hermit," he muttered.
The System didn't respond. But the message was clear: growth wasn't just numbers. It was about balance, too.
Back home, he dove back into his research. He had the capital to make his next move—but now, the question was where.
Tech was rising again, but so was chatter about pharmaceutical companies. He skimmed through articles until one name came up repeatedly: Hanjin Biotech.
A medium-sized firm, Hanjin had just received conditional approval for a new cancer treatment drug. The stock had been volatile for weeks, but if the final stage approval came through, it could triple in price.
New Quest Available: Investigate a Speculative Opportunity
Objective: Analyze the risks and potential gains of Hanjin Biotech's situation. Submit a full risk assessment.
Reward: +30 XP
Joon grinned. "Let's see if I'm ready for high risk."
He spent the next two hours reviewing trial history, regulatory timelines, and insider trading patterns. He wrote a full breakdown in his notebook: 60% chance of minor gain, 25% of major gain, 15% of catastrophic loss.
At 9:42 PM, he clicked Submit.
Quest Completed: Investigate a Speculative Opportunity
+30 XP
Current XP: 150 / 300
He leaned back.
That was three major quests done this week. He hadn't just studied. He had lived the life of a trader.
Now came the final step—deciding whether to invest in Hanjin Biotech.
His fingers hovered over the screen. The stock was currently at ₩3,200. Volatile. Dangerous.
"Let's test myself."
He clicked:
Buy 15 shares of Hanjin Biotech at ₩3,200 each
Total Spent: ₩48,000
Remaining Capital: ₩14,550
As the screen refreshed, Joon felt his heartbeat slow.
He hadn't just bought shares. He'd made a decision — calculated, reasoned, backed by data. That confidence wasn't given by the System.
He had earned it.
Money Update:
Previous Capital: ₩65,550
-₩3,000 (food)
+₩46,500 (MoonSeong sell)
-₩48,000 (Hanjin Biotech buy)
New Capital: ₩14,550
Current Holdings: 15 shares of Hanjin Biotech
XP Update:
+50 XP (Profitable Forecast-Based Trade)
+10 XP (Personal Reward)
+30 XP (Investigate Speculative Opportunity)
Current XP: 150 / 300