Questism and Lookism: Am I Suhyeon Kim?

The wind continued to move the branches of the tree above our heads. Some leaves fell slowly, spinning in the air before touching the ground.

Gukja said nothing, still processing my words. His silent acceptance hung in the air like a promise I didn't quite understand yet.

I, on the other hand, was curious.

Until now, I had seen statistics from others.

But not my own.

"Use card: Observe. Target: Suhyeon Kim."

The system flashed immediately.

[System]

You have used: Observe

Target: Suhyeon Kim

A floating projection appeared in front of me, with the same bright frame and structure I had seen before. But this time, with my name in the center.

Suhyeon Kim

Strength: D

Speed: C

Endurance: C

Intelligence: A+

Potential: B

I was silent for a moment.

"Eh...?"

A small spark of surprise flashed across my expression.

The stats were higher than I remembered. The original Suhyeon had nothing like this.

Almost everything was above average. Especially intelligence... A+. And even potential, though not perfect, was B.

I clicked my tongue, almost amused.

"I guess... something changed with me."

I didn't question it further. There was no point in doing so. I closed the panel with a quick thought and stood up.

Gukja was looking at me, still with some doubt in his eyes.

"So... what exactly are we going to do?" he asked.

I smiled as I stretched my arms, cracking my shoulders.

"We're going to train, Gukja."

"What? Here?"

"Yes. Start by running."

"Running!?"

"Twenty laps around the park."

"Twenty—!?"

"It's non-negotiable. Come on, you need to lose that fat you're carrying."

The sky was beginning to darken. The park had that damp feel of evenings turning into night. The sound of our footsteps on the damp ground was constant.

We jogged around the circular path.

"Come on, Gukja, don't stop!" I shouted over my shoulder.

"I'm... I'm running...!" he gasped, about to vomit a lung.

His sneakers clattered clumsily on the ground. He was red, sweating profusely, and panting like an exhausted dog. He looked like he was about to collapse at any moment.

I was tired too, but not as badly. Suhyeon's body was responding much better now. You could tell the difference. He was breathing heavily, yes... but he could still keep up.

"Your cardio is terrible," I said between gasps. "Before you do anything else, you have to strengthen your body. It's no use having strength if your body gives up first."

"Are you... sure... you don't want to kill me?"

"I'd kill you if you didn't train."

Gukja let out a long, clumsy groan. His legs were no longer responding.

"Just... one more lap...!"

"It's five more."

"WHAT?!"

I just smiled as we kept running. Although it seemed like torture for him, in my head, something else was on my mind.

This is the perfect moment.

If I use my attack cards on him, I can level them up. I won't kill him... it will just be a little painful. Besides, it will help him increase his endurance. Win-win.

"Use card: Jab."

[System]

[Silver Card activated]

> (Jab - boxing)

*Current rank: D [25/100]

Without warning, I threw a quick, measured jab at Gukja's arm as we jogged.

SMACK!

"AAAGH! WHY!?" he shouted, staggering.

"Defense, Gukja. Where's your defense? If you can't block a jab, how are you going to protect yourself in a real fight?"

"YOU'RE HITTING ME IN THE MIDDLE OF CARDIO!"

"Exactly. That's how I simulate real combat fatigue."

"WHAT KIND OF TRAINING IS THIS?!"

"One that works."

I threw another jab, softer this time. It barely grazed him, but he still complained as if he'd been hit by a truck.

"STOP HITTING ME!"

"Stop whining."

Gukja grunted, slipped a little when he stepped on a wet leaf, and almost fell face-first.

I couldn't help but laugh inside as I checked the system.

[System]

"Jab - boxing" card progress: D [29/100]

Perfect. Little by little. This was a way to level up without having to fight strangers.

And along the way, Gukja was improving. Or at least, he was surviving.

After nearly an hour of jogging, random jabs, and agonizing complaints, I decided that was enough for today.

Gukja collapsed onto the bench as if his legs had decided to quit military service. He was panting as if he had run a marathon, and his T-shirt was soaked with sweat.

I was tired too, but nothing compared to him.

I approached him while shaking the sweat from my neck.

"That's enough for today," I said, sitting on the back of the bench with my feet resting on the seat.

Gukja nodded weakly, still unable to speak.

I watched him for a moment. He had a few scratches on his arms and a smudge of dirt on his face that he didn't seem to notice. One of the jabs had left a slight redness on his shoulder, but it was nothing serious. Just marks of exertion.

"You're alive, so it was a good workout," I said.

"I feel dead..."

"Perfect. That's how it should feel."

Gukja let out a weak laugh, more out of reflex than actual humor. His eyes gazed at the dark sky stretching over the park, full of stars dimmed by the city lights.

I stood up.

"Starting tomorrow, earlier. At five o'clock sharp."

"Five?!"

"Five."

He brought his hand to his forehead in despair. But he didn't protest any further.

"And another thing," I added, walking toward the park exit.

"What now...?"

"Diet."

"Diet?"

"Yes. If you're going to train, you can't keep eating French fries with chocolate syrup at midnight."

Gukja sighed as if I had asked him to give up a kidney.

"Okay..." he muttered, head down. "Bye, Suhyeon..."

I gave him one last look over my shoulder.

"See you tomorrow, right-hand man."

He stood there, eyes half-open from exhaustion... but with a small smile on his lips.

"Yes... boss."

Then I watched him leave.

"Yes... if Gukja starts his training early, it will undoubtedly be a great help when the final stages come around," I thought as I watched him shuffle away. The guy was clumsy, slow, and easy to knock down, but his potential was S. If I polish him up well, he'll be a key player when things really get ugly.

I turned to leave at last, ready to call it a day, when a female voice sounded behind me.

"Training your friend at this hour?"

I stopped.

Not out of surprise, but because I recognized the voice immediately.

I turned my head slightly.

And there she was.

Baek Chaerin.

Standing a few feet away, arms crossed, jacket slung casually over one shoulder, headphones hanging around her neck. Her expression was the same as always: serene, inquisitive, as if nothing bothered her... but everything interested her.

The nearest streetlight barely illuminated her face, giving her a calmer air than in class. She didn't have that competitive gleam in her eyes. She didn't seem to be looking for a fight.

"What are you doing here?" I asked without raising my voice.

She blinked, surprised by my direct tone.

"I live nearby," she replied casually. "Sometimes I go out for a walk at night. The air is cleaner when no one else is around."

She glanced back at the bench where Gukja had been complaining about jogging minutes earlier, then looked back at me.

"And you? Impromptu night training?"

I shrugged.

"Something like that."

Chaerin took a step forward, showing no sign of tension.

"After defeating Hajun Gu... I thought I'd see you sleeping for three days straight. But instead, I find you sweating with the least athletic guy."

I smiled slightly.

"I guess I'm more productive than I look."

She raised an eyebrow.

"No, Suhyeon. You're stranger than you look."

We were silent for a few seconds.

Chaerin took another step closer and stopped right at the edge of the dirt road, where dry leaves crunched in the wind.

"What changed in you?" she asked suddenly, her voice lower.

She didn't say it accusingly. She sounded genuine. Confused.

"Before... you weren't like this."

I didn't answer right away. I just looked at her. It was strange. There was a special calm that night. As if the park were a parenthesis that didn't belong to the rest of the world.

"Maybe... it was just a matter of time," I said at last.

She pondered it silently.

And just as she turned to leave, I raised my voice enough for her to hear me:

"Princess, don't go out so late at night. It's dangerous."

Chaerin stopped dead in her tracks.

"A girl as pretty as you could have something important stolen..."

She turned her face, one eyebrow raised.

"My phone?"

"Your heart."

She rolled her eyes, exhaling a mixture of annoyance and suppressed laughter.

"What a corny thing to say, for God's sake..."

"Admit it made you smile."

"No."

But she turned away faster than usual. Fast enough that I couldn't see if she was really smiling or not.

"See you in class, Suhyeon Kim," she said as she walked away with her hands in her pockets.

I watched her leave. Her silhouette faded into the shadows of the trees and the flickering streetlight.

"Baek Chaerin, huh...?" I muttered.

Definitely... more interesting than she seemed.

"..."

The morning sun filtered through the second-floor windows, bathing the hallway floor in a soft glow.

He walked alone, hands in his pockets, his uniform slightly rumpled, and an aura that seemed to cut through the air as he passed.

The students who crossed his path did not step aside abruptly... but they did part like the waters of a river. They let him pass without him having to say a single word.

And the whispers.

The whispers were inevitable.

"Look... it's him. The new leader."

"Is that Suhyeon Kim...? He doesn't look that strong."

"Idiot, didn't you know? He defeated Hajun Gu like it was nothing."

"They say he broke his forehead with a single headbutt..."

"He defeated the most dangerous guy in Gangbukseo all by himself?"

"Shhh... lower your voice. Don't stare at him so much."

I didn't have to pay attention to hear them. The words floated like insects around my head, buzzing incessantly. Some looked at me with amazement. Others with respect. A couple, with fear disguised as indifference.

And some... with envy.

It was inevitable.

When you take down a king, you don't just replace him. You become the next target for everyone else who also wants to be king.

I didn't blame them.

I would do the same.

I kept walking, without changing my pace.

The hallways were the same.

But the world... was not.

But then, three figures appeared in front of me.

Tall. About seven or eight centimeters taller than me. They walked confidently, shoulder to shoulder, as if they had practiced their entrance. They seemed coordinated... but also strange.

The one on the left had his hair pulled back, tied in a tight bun, as if he had just come out of a Buddhist temple or a traditional play.

The one on the right was completely bald. His skull shone slightly in the light. His hands were in his pockets, but his eyes had a contained energy, as if he wanted to prove something.

And the one in the middle... was the most striking.

His hair was spiky, messy as if he had combed it with dynamite, and a tattoo peeked out boldly from the neck of his T-shirt. Some kind of dragon or claw. It wasn't clear, but it was intimidating.

They stopped right in front of me.

The one in the middle stepped forward, took a deep breath... and spoke in a loud, respectful voice:

"Excuse me, sir... are you Suhyeon Kim? The one who defeated Hajun Gu?"

I looked at him calmly. The energy they brought wasn't hostile.

I just nodded. "Yes."

Then, suddenly, the guy in the middle shouted enthusiastically:

"I'm Hyeondong, the leader of the first-years, greeting you!!!"

And then, the three of them bowed at a perfect 90-degree angle, lowering their heads in perfect synchrony.

"Greetings," said the two on the sides in unison, without looking up.

The hallway fell completely silent.

[System] Creating main mission...

[System] Rule Gangbukseo High School.

1. Gain the trust of the freshmen at Gangbukseo High School. [0/1]

2. ???

3. ???

Reward: ???

I read the floating message while trying not to laugh.

Rule Gangbukseo?

Perfect.

I didn't hesitate. A smile spread across my face, wide and genuine.

"Hyeondong, right?" I said, crossing my arms with a relaxed air. "From now on, my goal is to unite Gangbuk."

Their faces changed as if fire had been injected into their veins.

"WOAAAAH!" Hyeondong shouted, raising his arms. "Let's conquer all of Gangbuk!"

The other two began to celebrate behind him, jumping up and down and clapping their hands as if they had been accepted into a legendary gang.

"Calm down, we haven't conquered anything yet," I said, holding back my laughter.

"Hyeondong, I want you to report on everything that's happening at the other high schools. North, South, and East. Everything."

Hyeondong straightened his back with military speed. "As you say, my lord!"

"Good. Later, after class, we'll have a meeting. Be ready."

I began to walk away down the hallway, leaving the three behind, who bowed to me again as if saying goodbye to the emperor.

And as I walked, I couldn't help but glance sideways at the system still floating in front of me.

"Hyeondong..." I thought, without looking back. "Even though you have very poor potential, you are very loyal... and I appreciate that. I will help you evolve."

The classroom was empty.

Only the distant murmur of voices in the hallways broke the calm. The afternoon sun streamed through the windows, bathing the room in warm golden light.

I sat alone, staring into space with my forehead resting on my hands.

"I've definitely gotten ahead of myself a few days..." I thought. "I've progressed faster than I expected. Although the meeting with the leaders of the other high schools... I think it's scheduled for a week from now."

My gaze was lost in the details of the desk. I wasn't nervous... but I was focused. The system was accelerating my rise, and I knew that every step I took now echoed throughout Gangbuk.

"Leader of Gangbukseo..."

It didn't sound bad. Although it wasn't a title I sought. I didn't see myself as a king or a hero.

Just as someone who had taken control of his story.

Then, without warning, a chair next to me scraped slightly.

I hadn't heard it coming.

I turned calmly.

Sitting elegantly, legs crossed, hair styled with that perfect mess that looked intentional, and eyes fixed on me with a mixture of mockery and curiosity...

Baek Chaerin.

She was watching me with a raised eyebrow, as if I were an interesting experiment in a laboratory.

"Wow... what a solemn scene," she said playfully. "Our dear Suhyeon Kim, alone in class, planning his next conquest."

I didn't respond immediately. I just looked at her, my expression calm.

"I'm not conquering anything."

She feigned surprise.

"No? What about uniting the high schools of the North, South, and East? Is that just a gathering of friends?"

"It's leadership, not royalty." I leaned back a little. "I don't want a crown. Just a new order."

"How humble..." she murmured sarcastically, resting her chin on her hand. "The new leader of Gangbukseo... with a martyr's aura and all."

Her lips curved into an amused smile, waiting for me to follow her joke.

But I didn't.

Instead, I leaned toward her, calm.

And I spoke slowly.

"Are you having fun, Chaerin?"

She blinked, barely. Her smile was still there... but her eyes became more attentive.

"A little."

"Because I am," I said as I gently rose from the chair.

She didn't understand at first. I stood next to her, silently, and leaned in a little. Without warning, I reached out and gently took her chin in my hand.

Chaerin tensed reflexively. Her body froze for a second. Her expression hardened... but her cheeks also turned very, very slightly red.

I looked her straight in the eyes, without removing the calm smile from my lips.

"But be careful," I murmured in a low voice. "Girls who get too close... risk falling in love with the protagonist."

She parted her lips, surprised.

"W-what...?"

I slowly released her chin, still looking at her, and walked back to my seat.

Chaerin remained silent, touching her face with a slight gesture of confusion.

Her confident attitude had been shattered.

And although she tried to regain her composure immediately, she couldn't help but look away for a few seconds... while her cheeks still burned with embarrassment.

Chaerin remained silent for a few seconds.

Her cheeks were still flushed, but it wasn't the kind of blush that comes with shyness... it was the blush that comes when someone unexpectedly loses ground. When the safe, mocking, confident ground shakes beneath their feet.

She tucked her hair behind her ear and feigned a calm smile.

"The protagonist, huh?" she muttered, not looking at me. "Such adorable arrogance."

"Adorable and effective," I replied, resting my elbow on the table and turning toward her. "Your face says it all."

She shot me a quick, razor-sharp glance, but didn't respond immediately. She just leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. She had lost control of the conversation, and she knew it.

"Are you always like this with all girls?" she finally asked, without looking at me. "Or just the ones who catch your eye?"

I smiled.

"Not all of them sit next to me after sunset."

Her eyes narrowed slightly, as if she were trying to read beyond the words.

"Is that a disguised confession or a strategy?"

"What if it's both?"

Chaerin's eyebrow rose slowly. For the first time in the conversation, she seemed genuinely interested.

"You like to play with fire, don't you?"

"It's not fire if you want to get burned too."

Silence.

Chaerin broke it with a small, stifled laugh. She brought a hand to her lips and shook her head, still blushing.

"You're different, Suhyeon Kim."

"Different from whom?"

"From yourself... before. Although now that I think about it..." Her voice dropped a little. "Maybe this version was always there. It's just that no one had awakened it."

I looked at her for a moment longer, but didn't respond.

She sighed softly, resting her elbows on the table.

"Just be careful, leader," she said in a more serious, softer tone. "There are many who will want to test you now that you're at the top. The fall is always harder for those who shine suddenly."

"Then I'll have to make sure I don't fall."

"You better," she replied, and this time she smiled at me, a genuine smile. Short. But real.

She stood up slowly, picked up her bag, and walked toward the exit with that carefree elegance that seemed to come naturally to her.

Before walking out the door, she paused, turned her face slightly over her shoulder, and said:

"And don't call every pretty girl you see at night 'princess.' If you repeat phrases like that, you could cause misunderstandings."

"I know," I replied without moving. "But I don't have to repeat them... if I've already found the only princess worth saying that to."

Chaerin's eyes widened slightly in surprise. This time, she couldn't hide the blush on her cheeks. She turned around immediately and left the classroom without saying another word.

I stood there, smiling slightly.

The day wasn't over yet...

But what had ignited between the two of us...

That was just beginning.