Jeunk didn't wait long to strike back.
That same evening, as Il-seong stepped into his house, his parents were already waiting for him—arms crossed, faces tight with worry. Over the weekend, they had been ecstatic, swept up in the joy of their son's miraculous recovery. But the moment they heard about the fight—organized by Il-seong himself—that joy had turned into something else.
— We have a meeting with the principal tomorrow after school.
— That's not fair! Il-seong muttered.
— Don't talk back to your mother!
Il-seong rolled his eyes, and just like that, his parents burst into tears.
He'd always stayed out of trouble, fragile as he was. Never gave them a reason to worry. So this... this was all new. Too new. Too much. They didn't know how to deal with it.
Honestly, he couldn't blame them. The past week had been a whirlwind—terrifying, exhilarating, overwhelming. Still, a part of him pitied them.
He was healed. Cured. After all this time!
And what were they worried about? High school drama.
He checked his stats:
• Physical Constitution (recovery & stamina): 27%
• Physical Ability (speed, strength & reflexes): 110%
• Charisma: 35%
• Perception (intuition, intelligence & wisdom): 15%
• Mana Manipulation: 0%
Ever since he'd earned the Apprentice Hero – Level 2 badge and his Physical Fitness had surpassed 100%, Il-seong didn't just feel stronger—
He was.
People around him barely commented, but his body was changing. His frame had grown broader, his muscles swelling beneath his skin like something out of a storybook.
He was no longer just reading about heroes.
He was becoming one.
If only they knew I could crush anyone with a snap of my fingers, he thought grimly.
Sure, he'd fought Jeunk. But only because of that cursed limited-time badge with a death penalty. Well… and maybe for a bit of revenge. Okay, a lot of revenge.
But that wasn't his main goal.
From the very first day, he'd seen it—how just a little more Charisma had changed the way people looked at him.
He planned to push that stat to its absolute limit and bend the world to his will.
Jeunk had proven it—raw strength wasn't enough. You needed influence. Allies. Power behind the scenes.
And Il-seong would make sure Jeunk got expelled... using the bonus stats from his last dungeon.
With that plan burning in his mind, he met up with Si-woo at the school gate. He was relieved to see his friend smiling brightly for once. Si-woo was always so quiet, so tense…
But not today.
— I checked the lunch menu, Si-woo said cheerfully. It's Japan Day. I'm gonna stuff myself with tempura. You in?
Il-seong let out a quiet laugh.
When was the last time Si-woo smiled like that? Way before high school. Before his—
— Hello? Earth to Il-seong?
Si-woo flicked him on the forehead.
— Yeah, yeah, I'm in, Il-seong replied distractedly. You're not worried Jeunk might steal your lunch money again?
— After the beating you gave him yesterday? Si-woo smirked. Not a chance. Besides…
— Besides?
Si-woo suddenly paused, his gaze unfocused, like he was staring at something invisible.
— Let's just say... he's got bigger problems now.
Il-seong raised a brow but didn't push. Si-woo just gave him a mysterious grin and headed to his seat.
Il-seong wasn't used to arriving early—he usually came in at the last second to avoid Jeunk and his goons. So walking into class ahead of time felt strange. Even stranger was the way people were looking at him.
Surprise. Curiosity. Respect.
Normally, the other students ignored him… or watched him like a trainwreck they were glad not to be part of.
But now?
Now they were smiling. Waving. Greeting him like it was completely normal.
What a bunch of hypocrites, he thought.
The worst offender? Mi-cha.
She approached them with an awkward smile, clutching a handful of lollipops.
— Si-woo? she said, voice syrupy sweet. I wanted to apologize for yesterday…
— It's okay, Si-woo beamed like an anime protagonist. I overreacted. You were trying to help. And you were right, by the way!
— Uh… thanks?
Caught off guard, Mi-cha tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, dropped the candy on Si-woo's desk, and scurried back to her friends—who squealed and giggled the moment she sat down.
Il-seong threw an arm around Si-woo's shoulders.
— Got something to tell me?
— We just talked while you were fighting. That's all.
— I bet she was worried about her precious Jeunk.
Il-seong chuckled, unwrapping a strawberry lollipop.
What are we, ten?
— They're not dating, Si-woo said absentmindedly, eyes still distant.
— If you believe every lie she tells you, you've got a long way to go before you understand girls.
Si-woo elbowed him in the ribs.
— And who just got a gift from a girl ?
— Oh, please," Il-seong scoffed, popping the candy in his mouth. I beat up her boyfriend. She's just using you to get closer to me.
— Such modesty, Si-woo teased.
Then suddenly, he froze—staring at something only he could see.
— You remember that anime Spare Me, Great Lord?
— Meh. I preferred the webnovel.
— The powers were the best part.
— The way they played off the humor, right? When the hero has to be hated to be strong ?
Il-seong couldn't help thinking about his own powers. The badges, the dungeons, the trials…
It all reminded him of their childhood. The games they used to play together.
The system must have been tailored to their personalities—custom quests, personalized progression paths.
If whoever was behind this game truly understood him... they'd know he needed to max out Charisma. Fast.
Preferably before tonight.
— ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?! Mi-cha's shriek shattered the air.
Il-seong snapped out of his thoughts—just in time to see the classroom door fly open.
A student stood there.
Or... something that used to be a student.
He was drenched in mud and leaves, shirt pulled over his head like some twisted belly dancer, and he smelled so rancid the air around him seemed to distort.
The front row gagged. A girl in glasses sprinted to the trash can and vomited up an orange paste. Another student turned green but refused to look up from his notebook.
The intruder crab-walked into the classroom, spun, and wiggled his butt like a maniac. Half the class screamed. The other half laughed in horror.
Mi-cha backed away, pinching her nose.
— Stop! You're scaring me!
She was sweating. Some students saw her earlier buying a bottle of water, only to sprint back inside and hide behind her friends. Said friends were too frozen in shock to protect her now.
The creature stumbled toward Mi-cha, grunting like a awild animal.
She hurled a pencil case at him.
Blinded by his own shirt, the boy tripped over backpacks and slammed headfirst into a desk.
— URGH!
The student at the desk shoved him away in disgust. Dirt and grime smeared everything.
When his head hit the wall, the boy finally adjusted his clothes.
Il-seong grabbed Si-woo's sleeve.
— Are you seeing this?
Si-woo didn't answer.
He was grinning from ear to ear.
Jeunk.
It was Jeunk.
That disgusting, reeking clown of a person groveling at Mi-cha's feet.
And the creepy part?
He looked ecstatic.
— Sorry for scaring you, babe! he crooned.
— You've totally lost it, loser! Mi-cha snapped, kicking him in the shin.
Jeunk winced but kept smiling, his eyes locked on something invisible.
Only Si-woo could see it:
Quest Completed: Disgust the girl you love — SUCCESSFUL
Reward: All negative feelings felt by Mi-cha are now doubled.
A second window appeared, listing the classmates' names and awarding 10, 5, or 3 gold coins based on the strength of their disgust toward him.
— …You think I hit him too hard yesterday? Il-seong asked, standing to get a better look at Jeunk giggling in the corner.
— Maybe, Si-woo said with a shrug.
He glanced at his own interface. Rows of sliders appeared beneath his fingers.
Jeunk's gold farming quest was only the beginning.
The real fun?
That was still to come.
Especially for the Master now controlling Jeunk's fate.