READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 21
Chapter 21
I felt my mind drifting into a daze.
Sitting on the bus stop bench, staring blankly ahead, I realized I couldn’t continue like this.
I needed to figure out a plan.
First, I checked how much money I had on me.
The transportation allowance I received as a quest reward was already spent.
I searched my pockets, hoping for something, and found only my student ID, forgotten during the dorm stay.
I examined the student ID closely.
[On Raon | Hanla Performing Arts High School
Valid until 02/19 (month/year)
Date of Birth: 00/01/30]
Since I only checked the birth year on the day I received it, this was my first time scrutinizing it.
The birthdate was the same as mine, so I figured I could answer without confusion if anyone asked.
Flipping the ID over, I saw something written in black marker.
[home address: Busan Metropolitan City, Haeundae District…]
The English on the front was neatly written, but the Korean handwriting for what seemed to be an apartment address in Busan was a bit crooked.
If it was written here, it must be the player character’s home address.
Even if it was correct, I couldn’t get from Paju to Busan right now, so it was useless for the moment.
I also suddenly thought about school.
I hadn’t attended school in so long that I hadn’t even considered it, but an 18-year-old in Korea would typically be in 11th grade.
Would I have to go back to school too, on top of everything else?
The dreadful thought made my future seem even more bleak.
[You are currently not affiliated with any organization.]
Seeing this system message at this time suggested that the player character wasn’t attending school.
Since I had a student ID, it seemed likely they attended at one point but then dropped out.
Like me.
It felt like I was playing a detective game, solving problems by finding clues.
Anyway, it was a relief.
The system wouldn’t deceive me about something like this.
Staring at the student ID, I noticed that it had a check card function and that it was still valid.
I opened the banking app on my phone to check the balance, just in case.
Luckily, I could unlock it with my fingerprint.
[Savings Account Balance: 10,000 won]
Is this a joke? Balances like this don’t just drop to exactly 10,000 won unless done intentionally.
I bet my entire fortune of 10,000 won that this, too, was the system’s doing.
[How did you know? Wisdom +1]
Ah, my blood pressure.
A bus arrived shortly, so I got on. Life is about moving forward.
– Beep, student fare.
Now the balance was 8,900 won….
Thankfully, the card function of the student ID was still active.
I paid 1,100 won and enjoyed the bus’s heater until hunger hit me hard enough to make me get off.
Those stingy jerks. They sent me off at 1 PM without even giving me lunch. How heartless.
They probably did it to save money.
I bought a bag of fish-shaped pastries, 3 for 1,000 won, from a street vendor and walked aimlessly while eating, eventually finding myself in a quiet citizen park.
Elderly people were playing janggi (Korean chess) in a pavilion.
My legs were tired, so I sat on a bench and ate the last fish pastry’s tail while watching the janggi game.
One of the elders watching the game struck up a conversation with me.
“What’s a young person doing here in the middle of the day?”
“Just… wandering.”
“Did you run away from home after fighting with your mom?”
The elder’s eyes were on the suitcase beside me.
“…I didn’t fight.”
“Don’t you know running away means you’ll have a hard time? Go home before it gets worse.”
I wish I had a home to go back to.
When I didn’t respond, the elder spoke again.
“Do you know how to play janggi?”
“I was the captain of the janggi club at Sohyeon Elementary School.”
“Then let’s have a game. These old folks won’t play with me.”
“Why not?”
“They say I’m too good, so it’s no fun.”
The elder pulled the janggi board and pieces towards us.
“Then I, On Raon, will accept the challenge on behalf of the Sohyeon Elementary Janggi Club.”
“Alright. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
* * *
Since it had been a while since I played, I struggled at first but managed to win decisively in the third game, preserving the honor of the Sohyen Elementary Janggi Club.
[You defeated the second-best janggi player in this area! Intelligence +2]
The reward was sweet.
I wanted to ask for another game.
The elder, surprised at how well I played, coughed awkwardly.
Another elder who had been watching our games asked,
“You’re pretty good. Who taught you?”
“Artificial intelligence.”
“Artificial intelligence?”
I may look like this, but I was a smart gaming addict who placed third in a mobile janggi game tournament.
At that moment, another elder pointed to someone in the distance and said,
“Hey, Go Soojong is here.”
“What?”
“He’s coming this way.”
Curious, I turned to see an elderly man walking towards us with a distinct air about him compared to the others.
[Go Soojong]
What made him different was his attire.
His outfit—a navy checkered vest over a white turtleneck and a gray wool coat—was quite stylish.
‘What a fashionista.’
He looked like a real estate tycoon discussing land prices while playing golf.
“Long time no see.”
“It’s been a while.”
“The weather’s a bit warmer, so I decided to come out.”
After exchanging familiar greetings with the other elders, the man turned to me, who was awkwardly standing up, and asked,
“Who’s this kid?”
“Oh, he ran away from home.”
“I’m not a runaway!”
“If you are, you should stop wasting time with us old folks and go home to a warm bowl of soup.”
“Actually, I don’t have anywhere to go….”
The elders looked at me as if telling me to stop making excuses.
I was speechless at my own words.
Go Soojong, who had been watching me intently, smiled gently and said,
“How about a game of janggi for a wager?”
“A wager?”
“If I win, you go home nicely.”
“And if I win?”
“Since you have nowhere to go, you can stay at my place.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a quest popped up.
[Sudden Quest:
The title “Master” caught my eye. Why was such a skilled player here?
[▶ Quest Description: Go Soojong has proposed a wagered janggi match. Defeat him to secure a place to stay for the night.
▶ Confirmed Reward: Intelligence +10, Temporary Shelter (Go Soojong’s house)
▶ If you fail: Spend the night under the starless sky as your blanket.]
[Y/N]
“Yes! Let’s do it! I accept!”
When I answered quickly, one elder clicked his tongue.
“See? That quick acceptance shows he’s a runaway.”
Ah, I’m not. It’s unfair.
Anyway, the janggi board was set up more grandly than before.
Even the elders who were playing elsewhere gathered to watch.
Go Soojong was no ordinary player.
If I relaxed even a little, he’d find a way to cut my lifeline.
Despite the chilly air, sweat formed on my forehead from concentration.
Another problem was the elders who commented every time I showed signs of hesitation.
It seemed like they were advising me because I was young.
Move this piece. Capture that piece. Sacrifice this one. You’ll lose if you do that. Move the pawn. Don’t play dumb and take the lead….
…This won’t do. I stood up and shouted.
“Elders!”
“Huh?”
“My life guide, Admiral Yi Sunsin, once said something.”
Though until this morning it was Muk Hyesung, a role model that should change weekly.
“Admiral Yi Sunsin?”
“Yes! He left many famous sayings, but one in particular stands out right now.”
“What is it?”
“To live is to die, and to die is to live. I know many of you are wondering why I’m spouting nonsense suddenly.”
The elders nodded.
“But think about it. Your valuable advice from your fierce janggi battles sounds like you’re telling me to just survive. To face the top player here, the revered Go Soojong!”
Go Soo-jong chuckled.
“But surviving alone means I’ll eventually lose. I can’t just survive and call it my limit! So I will walk into the jaws of death willingly. Please watch how I overcome this adversity.”
“A runaway kid sure has a silver tongue.”
“I told you, I didn’t run away!”
“Sure, sure. Do what you want. We won’t interfere anymore.”
[Achievement
Damn system. Who’s really spouting nonsense here?
Anyway, the silence allowed me to focus on my moves much better.
The elders, who had stopped interfering, offered me roasted chestnuts and other snacks. They were delicious.
“…….”
But eventually, I faced a crisis. If this continued, I would lose. I felt it strongly.
Oh, no. The thought of sleeping outside in this weather made my spine shiver.
Thankfully, I had a trump card to overcome this predicament.
“Can I use a phone lifeline?”
“A phone lifeline?”
“Yes. Even Admiral Yi Sunsin didn’t fight alone. He had reliable comrades to face the harsh battlefields with….”
“Fine, if you want to, just once.”
“Yes, sir.”
Before parting ways, I exchanged numbers with my roommates.
My nearly empty contact list had three names, excluding Nagase Ritsu, who didn’t have a phone for use in Korea.
I dialed Ban Yohan’s number.
He should know a move I couldn’t see. He had to.
After a few rings, I heard Ban Yohan’s voice.
With only 5% battery left, I had to finish quickly.
– Hello?
“Hi, my most respected and trusted Yohan hyung.”
– ….
“Hello?”
– That’s quite sudden and overwhelming. Why did you call?
This guy, even when I compliment him.
But I’m the one in need here.
I sent a photo of the janggi board to Ban Yohan.
“Please look at the message I just sent. I must win this, and I can only call one person. I trusted you and called.”
[Your trust unexpectedly touched ban Yohan. Favorability +2, current favorability 21]
Don’t get the wrong idea.
I trust your intelligence, not you.
After a moment, Ban Yohan told me a perfect, brilliant move that made my eyes widen.
“Wow, hyung, you’re a genius. Completely like Pang Tong.”
– Why are you suddenly playing janggi?
“Just a wagered game.”
– …You’re not gambling, are you?
“No. If I win, I get a place to stay.”
– What? What do you mean? Explain….
Click.
“…Oh, the battery died.”
Well, I said what I needed to, and explaining my lack of a home was complicated.
I focused back on the game.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes. I have no more weaknesses.”
“We’ll see about that.”
“Let’s continue.”
“Go ahead.”
Thanks to the guy with 999 intelligence, I seized victory through the breakthrough he suggested.
Next time, I’ll repay him with a warm hug, though I doubt Ban Yohan will accept it as thanks.
“Checkmate!”
“Oh no, I lost.”
“Good game.”
“That was an impressive match.”
[Sudden Quest
[Quest reward: Intelligence +10 and Temporary Shelter (Go Soojong’s house)]
Go Soo-jong, with a wrinkled smile, said,
“A promise is a promise. Follow me.”