On the school bus, Hyunsoo sat next to a boy his age from a different school. Their schools were close by, practically neighbors. The boy looked at Hyunsoo's bruised and battered face.
The boy next to Hyunsoo (looking at him with surprising words):
"Hey! It's pathetic, isn't it, getting beaten and kicked? Does... does it feel good to get beaten up?"
Hyunsoo (hearing this, shocked):
"How did you know I was beaten and kicked? Are you one of Choi Daehoon's lackeys?"
The boy next to Hyunsoo:
"No, I'm not one of Choi Daehoon's lackeys. I saw you getting beaten up!"
Hyunsoo looked at the boy's uniform and realized it was different. He recognized him from the neighboring elite school, known for its wealthy students.
Hyunsoo (shocked, recognizing the name):
"Whoa, you're Minseok, the son of the Aerion company? Sorry, I didn't mean to talk to you!"
Minseok:
"It's okay... your name is Hyunsoo? Hahaha, nice to meet you!"
Hyunsoo and Minseok, the son of the famous company, got acquainted. Soon, the bus stopped at Hyunsoo's alley. Hyunsoo got off.
Hyunsoo:
"Oh, my stop! Sorry for bothering you..."
Hyunsoo got off the bus and headed home. On the bus, Minseok answered a call from a mysterious person.
Minseok (looking at his phone, knowing it was his uncle):
"What is it, Uncle?"
Minseok's Uncle:
"Was the trip safe, young master? And did you meet the boy?"
Minseok:
"Yes, I met him. He was in a pitiful state, all bruised up! What do you want with him, Uncle?"
Minseok's Uncle:
"I'm sorry, young master, I can't tell you who he is... The important thing is that you've met him, right? I've heard from you that you've met him, so thank you, young master Minseok."
After school, Hyunsoo returned home. His grandmother saw his bruised face and worriedly rushed to him.
Hyunsoo's Grandmother (very worried):
"Hyunsoo, my dear, what happened? What happened at school... were you bullied?"
Hyunsoo (smiling, lying to his grandmother so she wouldn't worry):
"No, Grandma... I just fell while playing basketball. Don't worry about me, I'm strong."
Hyunsoo had to lie because he knew his grandmother would worry. She was relieved that he wasn't bullied. For a long time, Hyunsoo had been lying to his grandmother about having many friends to make her happy. He went to his room, locked the door, and cried. His young heart ached from the torment. He opened his laptop.
"How to deal with bullying!" Hyunsoo typed into Google.
He found a website called Vendetta and clicked on it. The website read: "Welcome to the Vendetta System! This website gives you the power to be strong."
Hyunsoo downloaded the Vendetta System, a file named "vendetta system.exe." He opened it, and as he did, his vision blurred, and he fainted at his desk.
At 10:50 PM, Hyunsoo woke up.
He rubbed his eyes. The Vendetta System was inside him, floating in his vision. He saw his data displayed.
Character: Hyunsoo
Age: 17
Skills: None
Traits: Weak, nerdy, shy
Special Skill: None
Hyunsoo (looking at the system in front of him):
"Whoa, what is this... am I dreaming? Is this real?"
He saw a quest and read it. It said:
Quest: Run 5 km without any clothes on.
Hyunsoo:
"What the heck is this system! Run without clothes? That's ridiculous."
He heard a knock on his door. It was his grandmother. She told him it was late and to go to sleep.
Hyunsoo's Grandmother:
"Hyunsoo, are you asleep? Don't stay up late! If you're still hungry, there's food on the table..."
Hyunsoo (startled by the knock):
"Yes, Grandma, I'm going to sleep now."
Hyunsoo felt a new strength within him, a power to take revenge.
Saturday arrived, and Hyunsoo woke up to find the system still within him. He'd initially dismissed it as a dream, but the quest was still there.
Hyunsoo (lazily reading the quest):
"Run 5km? Without a shirt? Am I really going to accept this quest...?"
Internally, Hyunsoo wrestled with the decision – accept the quest and potentially change his life, or continue to be bullied by Choi Daehoon. With a heavy heart, he resolved to accept the quest and get his revenge. Leaving his room, he saw his sickly grandmother. His parents had taken all their money and assets.
Hyunsoo (seeing his grandmother):
"Grandma! Are you alright? Grandma... I'll pay for your treatment so you can get better!"
Hyunsoo's grandmother (happily):
"Don't worry, Hyunsoo. I'm fine. Go eat breakfast; it's on the table."
Hyunsoo went to the table, his heart heavy, but he ate with gusto. His grandmother was overjoyed to see him eat so heartily. After finishing, he headed to the park, where, with immense embarrassment, he stripped off his shirt and began to run. People around him whispered.
"Hey, look at that! Running shirtless!"
"Poor guy. Must be having a hard time."
Hyunsoo (embarrassed by the whispers):
"See! It's just begun and I'm already getting whispered about! But... for this quest... I hope I get a new power."
After running 2km, with 3km still to go, Hyunsoo struggled through the annoying quest. Mouth dry and body aching, he pushed on to 3km, then 4km, and finally 5km.
Hyunsoo (raspy voice, parched):
"Tired... Is the quest over? How do I activate the system? Oh, it's appearing..."
System voice:
"Quest completed. You have received a coin to open a lucky box."
Hyunsoo (confused, taking the coin from the system):
"Huh! I got a coin? And I use this to open a lucky box? This coin looks ancient."
Hyunsoo looked at the system again and swiped it, surprised to find it could be moved sideways. He found the lucky box and inserted the coin. The box emitted a light, and after the glow faded, Hyunsoo gained a skill: Quick Dash. He was utterly bewildered about how to use it.
Hyunsoo (looking at the skill in his system, confused):
"Quick Dash skill? How do I use this?"
While pondering how to use Quick Dash, a speeding bicycle approached from behind, the cyclist yelling.
"Hey, watch out!!"
Hyunsoo saw the bike and panicked; it was heading straight for him. Suddenly...
Hyunsoo (panicked as the bike neared):
"Oh no! What do I do... Oh yeah, the skill! I'll try it. Quick Dash, on!"
Hyunsoo felt a surge of energy, like drinking coffee at night. He moved swiftly to the side, a yellow flash of light surrounding him. The cyclist, looking back in shock, saw Hyunsoo waving.
Cyclist (shouting to Hyunsoo):
"Hey! Are you alright?"
Hyunsoo (approaching the cyclist):
"Yes! I'm fine, sir! Are you alright? If you're hurt, let me help."
Cyclist:
"That's... unexpected! Hahaha, I'm fine."
The cyclist left. Hyunsoo was thrilled; he'd felt his new power. He put his shirt back on and went home.
Elsewhere, in an elite house with the best amenities, lived Minseok, the son of Lee Jun Hyeok, a powerful figure in the Aerion company. Minseok's uncle arrived at the gate and was met by Minseok.
Minseok's uncle (talking to Minseok):
"Young master! I met Hyunsoo in the park. I almost hit him... but strangely, he was running naked!"
Minseok:
"You met Hyunsoo? He is a unique child. How was your conversation with him?"
Minseok's uncle:
"It was brief. It seems he lives with his grandmother."
Minseok:
"You didn't see his parents? Who are his parents?"
Minseok and his uncle continued their conversation about Hyunsoo for some time...