Morning sunlight streamed through the window, but Joon's room was still dark—curtains drawn, screen glowing. He hadn't slept much. His mind had been racing ever since he purchased those Hanjin Biotech shares.
The pharmaceutical company was risky. Too risky, maybe. But the upside...
He rubbed his eyes, checking the news again.
No updates. The drug approval would come next week, but the market was already getting jumpy. Early chatter in forums hinted that insiders were accumulating.
Hanjin Biotech: ₩3,200 → ₩3,250 (+₩50)
A small bump. Not enough to act on yet.
His current capital sat at:
₩14,550 (Liquid Capital)15 shares of Hanjin Biotech at ₩3,200 each (₩48,000 invested)
He checked his System Window.
[Status Window]
Level: 4
XP: 150 / 300
Capital: ₩14,550
Stat Points Available: 0
Market Insight: 5
Negotiation: 2
Stamina: 2
Research: 0
His Market Insight had helped so far. But he still felt unarmed when it came to uncertain data. He needed to sharpen his intuition.
That morning at school, Joon tried to act normal. But he couldn't stop glancing at his phone under the desk. He wasn't addicted to stock prices—he was managing risk, or so he told himself.
During lunch, he sat alone and opened his notebook. This time, he wanted to record his mental state. What made him hesitate? What gave him confidence?
"Fear is the market's loudest voice. Silence it with preparation."
He smiled faintly. It wasn't just about companies or charts anymore. It was about him.
Suddenly, the System pinged again.
New Quest Available: Emotional AuditObjective: Track your emotions over two market days and analyze how they affected your decisions.Reward: +20 XP
He blinked. This was different. But it made sense. Even the best traders collapsed under emotion.
Joon accepted the quest and began journaling.
That night, something unusual happened.
He got a DM from someone named @KimMTrader in a local stock forum he'd joined days earlier.
"Hey, noticed your Hanjin post. Brave move. Mind sharing your thesis?"
Joon hesitated. Was this guy trying to fish for info? But the message didn't feel like a scam. It felt curious. Real.
He typed back cautiously:
"Approval window for drug is statistically favorable. Insider activity suggests accumulation. Chart shows resistance at ₩3,400. If it breaks that, could surge."
There was a pause. Then:
"Smart. Let's stay in touch."
He stared at the message, thoughtful. Maybe he was beginning to sound like someone who belonged in the market.
The next morning, Joon woke up to a new update:
Hanjin Biotech: ₩3,250 → ₩3,500 (+₩300)
His eyes widened. The stock had popped above resistance. People were rushing in.
He didn't panic.
Instead, he waited.
By noon, it reached ₩3,650. Then ₩3,700.
Sell 15 shares of Hanjin Biotech at ₩3,700 eachBuy price: ₩3,200 → Profit per share: ₩500Total Profit: ₩7,500Total Return: ₩55,500Updated Capital: ₩70,050
Quest Completed: Emotional Audit+20 XPCurrent XP: 170 / 300
Quest Completed: Profitable High-Risk Trade+50 XPCurrent XP: 220 / 300
Joon exhaled. The familiar System notification glow hovered in front of him, but this time, it didn't announce a level up.
[Status Update]
Level: 4
XP: 220 / 300
Stat Points Available: 0
Capital: ₩70,050
He closed the window and looked outside. The village was quiet. Peaceful. It almost didn't match the firestorm of change burning inside him.
He wasn't chasing wealth anymore.
He was chasing mastery.
Money Update:
Capital after sale: ₩70,050
Final Capital: ₩70,050
XP Update:
+20 XP (Emotional Audit)
+50 XP (Profitable High-Risk Trade)
(220 / 300 XP)