The lights in the hallway were turning off one by one. Dahyun had already locked herself in her room, and the whole house was sinking into a comfortable silence.
I returned to my room, closed the door gently, and sat on the edge of the bed.
I had waited all day for this.
I reached out my hand into the air and mentally thought:
"Use: Recovery Seed."
[System]
Card consumed: Recovery Seed
At that moment, I felt it.
A wave of heat ran through my body as if I had been injected with liquid light. It started in my chest and spread to my arms, legs, and fingertips. The burning in my knuckles disappeared. The pressure on my ribs melted away. The tightness of the bandages lost its meaning.
As if the pain had never been there.
I slowly took off my shirt. Not out of caution, but out of simple curiosity.
In front of the mirror, the reflection did not show a beaten boy.
There were no bruises. No cuts. No swelling. The eyebrow that had been bleeding was clean. The skin was smooth. The ribs were aligned.
It was as if the system had hit "Control + Z" on all the damage of the day.
Incredible.
That letter... was really broken.
But it also allowed me to see something else.
My body.
Suhyeon's body.
Skinny. Too skinny. The arms were thin, almost without muscle. The chest flat. The shoulders slumped. Nothing about him screamed "threat."
This body... wasn't ready for war.
And yet, there I was, preparing to face monsters.
"Tsk." I clicked my tongue, turning sideways in front of the mirror. "If I want to survive what's coming... this has to change."
Technique, cards, intelligence... all of that mattered.
But I also needed a foundation.
Strength.
Endurance.
Presence.
I couldn't look weak if I wanted to stop being weak.
I ran my fingers over my abdomen. Zero definition. No trace of the physique I had had in my previous life. Every muscle I had built there... was left behind.
"Then let's start over," I muttered.
I was no longer just a spectator. I wasn't a reader trapped in a comic book.
I was the protagonist.
And my training... began tomorrow.
"And speaking of tomorrow..." I muttered as I lay on my side on the bed, staring at the ceiling. "Tomorrow I'll meet Hajun Gu."
It was inevitable.
Choi Changdong's downfall wasn't going to go unnoticed. That guy was an important cog in the Gangbukseo High School hierarchy. His defeat was like throwing a stone into a pond... the ripples spread quickly.
And at the center of that pond was him: Hajun Gu.
The unofficial leader of Gangbukseo High School. The uncrowned king. If someone like him heard that Suhyeon Kim—the nerd they used to kick around for fun—had defeated his watchdog... he would come to see for himself.
And if he had any doubts... he would use his fists.
"I can't be pitiful when that moment comes," I said, opening the system with a thought.
The card floated in front of me. Silver. Shiny. Promising.
[Silver Card]:
[Attack Card]
> (Jab - boxing)
You can use the boxing Jab.
*Current skill rank: F [0/100]
Just having it didn't make me strong.
I needed to train it.
Raise its rank. Turn it into an extension of my body. Into a real weapon, not just a pretty decoration.
"If I try hard enough... maybe I'll even get new missions," I mused. The system feeds on progress.
And progress... I wasn't going to wait around for it.
I stared at the ceiling for a long minute, until an idea settled in my head. Not as a whim. But as a plan.
"Go out at night..." I murmured.
I knew it was crazy. That it made no sense to take risks when I was just starting out. But I also knew something else.
The system responded to challenges.
And if I stayed here, locked up between four walls, there would be no challenges. There would be no missions. There would be no growth.
I knew this because I had already seen it.
Choyun.
The leader of the North.
One of the few with a system.
In the original story, he had done just that: gone out at night, roamed dangerous streets, sought out conflicts... confronted thugs. Anyone who posed a challenge. And so, without rest, without pause... he had leveled up at an absurd rate.
In a short time, he went from being a nobody to becoming one of the pillars of Gangbuk.
All thanks to the system.
"But there's a difference between him and me..." I murmured, closing my eyes for a moment.
He doesn't have to hide.
I do.
If Choyun finds out that another system carrier has appeared in his territory, he won't be happy.
He'll eliminate him.
No questions asked. No warnings.
He'd kill me instantly.
That's why... I can't be loud.
I can't draw attention to myself.
I have to level up, yes. But quietly.
I have to become a shadow with claws.
One that trains in the dark... and attacks when no one expects it.
I sat up in bed, my heart beating with a mixture of anxiety and excitement.
"It's decided," I said, looking up with conviction. "Tonight... I begin my real training."
I smiled.
"Let's go hunting."
I got up decisively and went over to the closet.
I searched the back of the closet for a black hoodie, something old Suhyeon probably wore to blend in during class. Then, a pair of black cotton pants, loose but flexible. Comfortable to move in. Fast to run in.
I tied my sneakers tightly. I couldn't afford to slip tonight.
Finally, I took a black face mask out of one of the drawers. Not the cheap cloth one everyone else wore, but a thicker one with strong seams. One of those that covered the face well.
I put it on calmly.
The hood covered my head.
The mask covered my face.
The weak, trembling boy of the past... was gone.
I turned off the lights and left my room like a silent thief. Only the slight creaking of the wood under my feet accompanied me.
Dahyun was asleep. Mom wasn't home from work yet. Perfect.
I slowly slid open the front door, careful not to let it squeak, and closed it behind me with an almost imperceptible click.
The night welcomed me with a cool breeze. The neighborhood streets were calm, covered by orange streetlights that cast more shadow than light. Some windows were still lit. Others were already dark.
I started walking, hands in my pockets, eyes down.
I had no exact destination. Just one intention: to find trouble before it found me.
I walked down two quiet streets, then a wider one, where closed businesses left loose signs floating in the wind.
And there, finally, something.
In a dimly lit corner, two guys were approaching from the front.
They wore cheap leather jackets, ripped jeans, and stained sneakers. One wore a cap turned backwards, the other had his hair dyed pale blonde. Both smoked carelessly, blowing smoke into the air as if marking their territory.
When they saw me, one of them let out a low laugh.
"Look at that," said the one with the cap. "A ninja?"
"Nah... just another geek trying to be mysterious," laughed the blond, throwing his cigarette on the ground. "Where are you going, cosplay?"
I kept walking without answering, but straight toward them.
"Hey, hey, hey..." The one in the cap stepped forward, blocking my path with one hand. "You don't say hello, you don't talk... Do you think you're better than us?"
"Or worse," added the blond guy, approaching from the side. "I bet he's one of those nerds who play tough at night."
They were both half a meter away from me.
They both smelled of cheap cigarettes, sweat... and ego.
Perfect.
[System]
A side mission is being created.
[System]
Defeat the thugs [0/2]
Reward: 1 silver card.
"Activate Jab card," I thought.
[System]
[Silver Card activated]
> (Jab - boxing)
*Current rank: F [0/100]
The system seemed to integrate itself into my body. Immediately, I felt it:
My right arm tensed.
My posture adjusted itself.
My fingers closed with precision.
My breathing aligned.
It was as if an invisible trainer was pulling the strings.
"What are you doing? Are you going to fight looking like that?" said the blond guy, laughing. "Are you going to teach us kung fu, Jackie Chan?"
I didn't answer.
I just took a step forward.
And threw the first jab.
SMACK!
The punch landed squarely on the cheek of the guy in the cap, causing him to stagger with a grunt. It wasn't a devastating blow, but it was fast and accurate enough to wipe the smile off his face.
[System]
> Effective strike: +8 EXP [Jab - F → 8/100]
My eyes widened slightly.
I felt it.
That rush of improvement.
That confirmation from the system.
The blond let out a short cry and lunged at me, clumsily. He tried a right hook.
I dodged it.
By instinct... no. By system.
My body moved on its own. I ducked and slid to the left, turning my hip, and from that position...
Another jab.
CRACK!
Right on his nose.
The blond guy let out a scream and backed away, bringing his hands to his face.
[System]
> Effective hit: +9 EXP [Jab - F → 17/100]
"Son of a—!" the guy in the cap, who had already recovered, tried to shout.
He lunged at me with both arms outstretched.
But that was the worst thing he could have done.
I took a step back and unleashed a flurry of punches.
One.
Two.
Three quick jabs to the face and chest.
PAF! PAF! PAF!
His legs buckled.
He fell to his knees.
[System]
> Effective hits: +12 EXP [Jab - F → 29/100]
The blond guy tried to grab me from behind. I saw it coming. I turned with my left arm to cover myself, but my right arm was already ready.
A jab right on the chin.
THOCK!
And he fell like a sack of potatoes.
[System]
> Effective critical hit: +15 EXP [Jab - F → 44/100]
Silence.
The two of them were on the ground. Moaning. Bleeding. Defeated.
And me, standing... barely sweating.
My heart was pounding, yes. But it was more from excitement than fear.
[System]
Side mission completed
> Thugs defeated [2/2]
Reward obtained: 1 Silver Card
First night mission bonus: +10 additional EXP in Jab
[Jab - F → 54/100]
My smile, hidden beneath the mask, widened.
This was real.
This... worked.
I bent down and checked the guys' pockets. It wasn't out of greed, but out of necessity.
A wallet. A lighter. A few crumpled bills.
Nothing special.
I stood up with a sigh.
The air smelled of defeat, cold smoke, and dried blood. The two thugs were still moaning on the floor, but neither had the strength to get up. One was writhing, clutching his jaw. The other was spitting saliva mixed with dark red.
I quickly checked what I had taken: a wallet with some crumpled bills, a cheap lighter, and a keychain with a rusty skull symbol. I doubted it was worth anything.
"Maybe I can sell this," I muttered, putting the useful items in the inside pocket of my sweatshirt.
A small flash lit up in the air, floating in front of me. Not a complete picture of the system, just a discreet notification. Small. Precise.
[System]
Silver card obtained.
> Do you want to verify?
I thought: Yes.
A new card floated in front of me, spinning slowly as if it knew it had my full attention.
[Silver Card]:
[Attack Card]
> (Dodge)
Your body reacts slightly faster to melee attacks.
*Current rank: F [0/100]
I stood still.
"Another attack card?" I muttered, somewhere between surprised and satisfied.
This didn't make me stronger. It didn't make me hit harder. But it gave me something just as valuable: margin for error.
With this card active, my movements would be a little more precise, more intuitive. The difference between dodging a blow... or ending up face down on the ground.
"Perfect for someone like me..." I said quietly, looking at my own hands under the flickering light of a rusty lamppost.
Jab and Basic Dodge.
One attack. One defense.
It could work.
I could build from here.
I looked once more at the guys on the ground. They were too dazed to identify me or remember what had happened. Even if they did... who would believe them? No one in this neighborhood would stick up for two idiots who were looking for trouble.
I turned around.
And I walked away slowly, letting my footsteps blend in with the sounds of the night.
It was only the first fight.
The first hunt.
And I could already feel the system molding me. Absorbing me.
This was just the beginning.
Some time later.
I took off my mask and put it in my pocket as I crossed the last street on my way home. The sky was still dark, but the air was starting to feel different, as if the world was preparing to wake up.
It had been about three hours since I left.
Three hours of running through alleys, picking fights, dodging broken bottles, and leaving more than one thug unconscious on the pavement. Each fight had given me something: experience, reflexes... and cards.
Not bad for a first night.
I slid the door open with the same care I had used when I left. No one had noticed. Not Dahyun. Not Mom.
Perfect.
I climbed the stairs silently and locked myself in my room. I took off my sweat-soaked sweatshirt, dropped my mask on the floor, and fell backward onto the bed.
I exhaled sharply.
I checked the system one last time before closing my eyes.
"Six bronze cards... two silver... and one gold," I muttered to myself.
And all that in just three hours.
I turned on my side, burying my face in the pillow.
It was still early morning.
But I needed to sleep, even if it was just for a couple of hours.
I had classes later...
And I was going to meet Hajun Gu.
I smiled, despite my exhaustion.
"It's going to be an interesting day."
Then I closed my eyes.
And slept.
The minutes turned into hours.
The room remained in darkness, barely bathed in the faint blue light that filtered through the curtains. Everything was silent. Almost everything.
"Suhyeon!" Dahyun's voice banged on the door loudly, irritated. "Wake up now, you're going to be late!"
A series of sharp knocks shook the wood.
"I don't care if you go or not, but Mom said to tell you!"
Her tone was sharp. Forced. As if doing this made her feel embarrassed for me.
"And don't think I'm going with you," she snapped. "I'm not walking next to a loser."
His footsteps quickly receded, with that familiar mixture of annoyance and disdain.
I stirred in bed, half dazed.
The night.
The fights.
The letters.
It all came back to me at once.
I sat up with a grunt. My body ached, yes, but deep down... I felt more alive than ever.
I looked at the clock on my phone.
7:21 a.m.
"Shit..."
I jumped out of bed.
It was time to put my uniform back on. To return to the hell called Gangbukseo High School.
And to finally face... Hajun Gu.
The classroom was filled with the typical buzz of any given morning.
White light, scratched desks, and students staring blankly at their cell phones or slumped over their backpacks. Some were dozing, others pretending to pay attention. The teacher hadn't arrived yet.
It had been over an hour since the bell rang.
I was sitting in my seat, my body feeling a little heavy, but my mind awake. My uniform was slightly wrinkled and my sleeves rolled up. My mask was gone, but the tension was still anchored in my muscles.
Next to me, as always, was Gukja Yang.
His head rested on one arm and his gaze fixed on his notebook, as if he were really writing something... although I knew he wasn't.
"You look worse than usual," he muttered without looking at me, barely moving his lips.
"I didn't sleep well," I replied, crossing my arms on the desk.
"Nightmares? Or did you keep crying over yesterday's beating?"
I couldn't help but smile. Not because it was funny. But because that was the response I expected from old Gukja.
That was how he was. Always sarcastic and apathetic. But beneath that facade, I knew... there was a sleeping beast.
In the original story, Gukja Yang was much more than the typical best friend.
He had dangerous blood running through his veins. Son of a former Yakuza. Untapped potential.
And in the future arc... he became one of the strongest.
He didn't know it yet. Neither he nor anyone else.
But I did.
That's why I watched him for a second longer. Not out of nostalgia, but out of strategy.
Having him around wasn't just comfortable... it was smart.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked, frowning. "Did you fall in love?"
"I was just wondering how long it would take you to explode."
"Huh?"
"Nothing," I replied, looking away toward the hallway.
The teacher hadn't arrived yet. But I could feel it. The atmosphere was starting to get tense.
Today wasn't a normal day.
Because at some point...
Hajun Gu was going to show up.
And that moment... could be any second now.
Just then, as if fate had heard my thoughts, the classroom door burst open.
Several students entered. They wore the standard Gangbukseo uniform, like the rest of us, but their presence was different. It was evident in the way they walked, in the confidence with which they scanned the room, as if they were accustomed to imposing themselves simply by entering.
They weren't particularly muscular. They didn't have tattoos. They didn't need that.
They were followers of Hajun Gu.
Immediate silence.
The murmurs died down, the glances averted, and the atmosphere tensed like a string about to snap. Even Gukja Yang, sitting next to me, looked up with an arched eyebrow.
One of the boys—tall, thin, with a slightly rumpled uniform and a cold stare—stepped forward.
His voice rang out effortlessly.
"Where is Suhyeon Kim?"
The eyes in the room moved in unison. Everyone looked at me. No one said anything.
I smiled.
Small, calm, like someone who knew this moment would come.
I stood up.
"Here," I said in a neutral tone, raising my hand slightly.
The one who asked looked at me for a few more seconds. His eyes narrowed.
"Come with us."
No drama. No threats. Just an order.
I slipped between the desks, feeling the attention fixed on the back of my neck.
Gukja whispered something I couldn't quite hear.
And then I left the classroom.
The game... had begun.
---
Author: Hello, readers.
Thank you for joining me in this new chapter of "Questism: Am I Suhyeon Kim?"
From now on, chapters will be published every other day, that is, every other day, to maintain a steady pace without compromising quality.
But if I see a lot of support for this fanfic—comments, reactions, reads—that would let me know that you guys are really enjoying the story... which would make me consider publishing chapters daily.
I'm really enjoying developing this version of Suhyeon, and what's to come will be even more intense.