'It seems I really did die and reincarnate.'
He acknowledged the system's prompt, recognizing it as some kind of supernatural phenomenon.
Never had he expected reincarnation to be real, and yet, here he was, seemingly brought back by this so-called system.
It was intriguing, to say the least, but not enough to shock him.
[Allow system to bind to the user?]
His eyes lingered on the final prompt hovering before him.
'A system, huh?' He mused, fully grasping the meaning behind it. The system was awaiting his consent to bind with him. He recalled stories from his past life, manhwas and novels where protagonists were granted systems that accelerated their growth. Some required tasks to be completed, while others simply enhanced their hosts passively. Those who received such systems were destined for greatness.
Anyone in his position would have immediately agreed. But he wasn't just anyone.
"I refuse." A thin smile played on his lips as he declined the request.
The prompt remained unchanged at first, but after a brief silence, the contents shifted.
[Why?]
"So, you're not just a program, but something more?" He murmured, intrigued by the response. He had expected an automated farewell, yet instead, the system displayed curiosity, an almost human-like desire to understand his reasoning.
That only made things more interesting.
"Why do I refuse?" He placed his elbow on his desk, resting his head against his knuckles, his smile carrying an unspoken depth.
"Who do you think I, Joon, am?"
It was only one question, one question that showed there was more to him than a simple name. It wasn't just curiosity, it was a challenge, an invitation to reconsider who he truly was. He wasn't asking for the sake of hearing an answer, he wanted the system to think, to recognize that he wasn't just anyone. His words carried weight, as if his identity held significance beyond what was seen on the surface. There was something about him, something unspoken yet undeniable, waiting to be understood, and the system, for sure knew that.
Silence stretched between them.
[I understand.]
Then, after a few seconds, the system responded.
A chuckle escaped Yunho's lips.
[Then enjoy your journey. Farewell.]
The prompt vanished from his sight.
Joon leaned back in his chair, slipping his hands into his pockets, his expression refreshed. The system had understood. That was enough.
'But there's something strange.'
A realization crept in. His memory.
He knew his name, his age, his identity, but beyond that, everything else was foggy, as if waiting to be unraveled. The more he tried to recall, the more elusive his past became.
'For now, I'll work with what I know.'
His current name, age, and identity all matched his previous life. Seventeen years old, just like when his journey to power had begun before. An orphan, just as he had been back then.
At seventeen, he had trained alone, pushing himself to extremes for eight years, until he reached an extraordinary level of strength. Yet, he never considered himself at his peak, there had always been more room to grow.
But in the end, he had died. Poisoned by a lethal venom.
Well, none of that mattered now. He had a second chance.
The only difference? In this life, he was a high-schooler.
'What should I do now?'
A new life meant new opportunities. Should he live differently this time?
How different? He wasn't sure. One thing was certain. He wouldn't change who he was. But experiencing something new wouldn't hurt. A normal school life, perhaps?
'Heh. A normal high-schooler, huh?'
The thought amused him. Not because he was in high school, but because of the word normal.
He was anything but normal.
Still, he had two clear objectives in this world.
'Go with the flow. Get stronger.'
His gaze drifted toward the window, watching the scenery outside. There was no need to resist this life, nor fight against it. He would let things unfold naturally, embracing whatever this world had to offer.
Of course, training was a must. His current body was no different from an average civilian's.
This was a new world. Surely, it had things his previous one lacked. Stronger opponents, greater challenges, he hoped.
And most of all, he looked forward to his own growth.
He had all the experience from his past life, yet his body was young once more. His progress would be smooth, unhindered.
It was almost unfair. A cheat, even.
'It's only a matter of time before I reach the peak of what this world has to offer.'
Joon wasn't making an empty statement, it was just reality.
In his past life, he had carved his own path to power, reaching a level beyond anything conventional martial artists could dream of. It hadn't been luck or talent alone, it was also with sheer effort, relentless training, and real combat experience that had shaped him. In just eight years, he had surpassed everyone around him, yet as he said, he had still seen room for growth, he wasn't at his peak when he died. He had more room to achieve and refine.
Now, with the advantage he had, the process was inevitable. His past self had to put some effort, test theories through trial and error, and push his body to its absolute limit. This time, there were no wasted years, no inefficient methods. Every second of training would be maximized, every technique mastered at an unprecedented speed.
His past self had walked the long road to power.
This time, he would run.
Suddenly, Joon's thoughts were interrupted as someone passed by him, heading toward the front of the classroom. From the way he moved, Joon could tell he wasn't just walking up, he had a target. The student who had been fiddling with a phone moments ago was now frozen in place for some strange reason. And then it happened.
"Dowan Ha, you fucker."
With that shout, the silver-haired student slammed Dowan's head onto the desk.
'A bully, huh?' Joon observed, watching the scene unfold. The silver-haired guy clearly belonged to the type who preyed on the weak.
The streets were no different. But unlike here, the weak wouldn't just sit back and take it. They would fight, even if it meant losing their lives. That was the difference, those on the streets had nothing to lose, while those in places like this feared pain, feared standing up because their opponent was stronger.
Joon didn't blame these high schoolers for being scared. He understood them. But he blamed their weak mindset.
If they wanted to change, they had to start somewhere. Even taking the first step, just trying, was enough to begin improving. Trying once would make them want to try again, and over time, they would grow stronger.
His attention returned to the front just as the silver-haired student yanked Dowan up by his tie and started punching him repeatedly, forcing him back. Each hit drew a pained grunt from Dowan.
Joon remained still, watching. Then, the classroom door suddenly slid open.
A girl entered, her long black hair tied in a ponytail. She wore a short-skirt school uniform, her blue eyes scanning the room.
"Dowan, I'll just take my phone back... Huh?"
She froze, taking in the unexpected scene in front of her.
'Ahrin?' Dowan looked up in surprise. He hadn't expected her to return. 'Why did she come back-'
His thought was cut off as another punch struck his face, sending him crashing into the teacher's desk, knocking it over. The assault didn't stop. The silver-haired student grabbed him again, continuing to beat him without mercy.
"Hey, Chulwoo Min!" The girl suddenly called out.
Chulwoo ignored her, his fists still landing on Dowan.
"What are you doing? Stop!" She stepped forward quickly. "I said stop!"
Seeing that he wouldn't, she grabbed his arm to pull him away.
"Ah, fuck, you're hella squeaky in my ears." Chulwoo clicked his tongue in annoyance and let go of Dowan, who slumped to the ground.
Then, without hesitation, he turned on her, grabbing her by the hair. She gasped in pain.
"Have you gone crazy because boys keep flattering you, calling you pretty?" He sneered.
"Let go!" Ahrin struggled, trying to break free. "I'll call the teacher!"
'I have to save her.' Dowan's mind screamed at him as he watched Ahrin being held by Chulwoo. He had to do something.
'Move.' His body didn't respond. 'I need to help her.'
But no matter how many times he told himself, his body refused. Fear paralyzed him, fear of Chulwoo Min, fear of not knowing what to do. And yet...
"Stop squeaking, you bitch." Chulwoo raised his right hand, ready to slap Ahrin.
"Now, now, why don't we calm down a bit?"
A voice rang out, stopping everything.
Even Dowan, who had been slumped on the ground a second ago, was on his feet seemingly ready to act but froze in place.
"Huh?" Chulwoo frowned. His right forearm was gripped tightly, forcing him to release Ahrin's hair. She exhaled sharply in relief.
"Who the fuck are you?" Chulwoo snapped, twisting his arm, but the grip was solid, unmoving, like steel.
Dowan and Ahrin also turned toward the unfamiliar student who had appeared beside them, don't know when. He held Chulwoo's arm effortlessly, an easy-going smile on his lips.
The student wasn't particularly tall, standing around 177 cm with an average build. His medium-length black hair was ruffled and spiked, and his silver eyes glinted under the classroom lights. He wore the standard school blazer, pants, and shoes.
'He actually stood up to Chulwoo.' Dowan was stunned. But he knew this wouldn't end easily, Chulwoo wouldn't let it slide.
Ahrin, relieved yet worried, realized this wasn't over. Chulwoo wouldn't back down, and things could escalate fast. She had to call the teacher before it got worse. She didn't want to see someone else getting hurt because of Chulwoo.
But there was something strange.
'Why is my body shaking?' The thought crossed Dowan's mind. Then Ahrin's. Even Chulwoo's.
They weren't sick. They weren't cold. But their bodies trembled, an instinctive reaction. A sudden, inexplicable dread.
"You fucker, have you lost your mind too?" Chulwoo roared, shaking off the feeling as he glared at the student. "Let go!" He struggled, trying to free his arm, but the grip didn't budge.
"I said, let go!" He pulled with all his strength, and finally, his arm was freed.
"Well, aren't you pitiful?" The student chuckled seeing Chulwoo break free from his hold, or to be more precise he allowed it.
"You bastard, I'll kill you." Chulwoo's face twisted in rage. First, Dowan had dared to glare at him provokingly. Then, Ahrin, acting like she was above him because of her looks. And now, this random nobody thinking he could stand in his way? It pissed him off.
At the sound of Joon's voice, Chulwoo lunged forward, his right fist hurtling toward Joon's face. His expression was twisted with fury, fully expecting to land the punch. Yet, despite the imminent attack, Joon remained still, an easygoing smile lingering on his lips, completely unfazed.
The fist closed in, inches away from impact.
"Watch out!" Ahrin's voice rang out, laced with worry. Her heart pounded as she watched the scene unfold, dread creeping up her spine. This was exactly what she feared. If the student got hurt...
She turned, ready to dash for a teacher.
But then...
A loud thud echoed through the classroom.
"Huh?"
Ahrin froze, her wide eyes locked onto the scene before her.
Chulwoo, who had been standing just a second ago, was now sprawled across the floor, completely motionless. Out cold.
The classroom fell into stunned silence.
She looked back at the student, his left arm tucked in his pocket and his right arm hanging at his side, his calm smile never fading. Ahrin understood it was his doing, but how it happened was almost too fast to comprehend.
All she saw was Chulwoo's punch inches from the student's face, then her eyelids flickered, and suddenly, Chulwoo was on the floor. It was that fast, so confusingly fast, making her question what had happened in that brief moment.
Dowan had the same wide-eyed expression, shocked and confused. He didn't understand what had happened but knew the student had done something. More than that, he was stunned by something else.
'He took Chulwoo down.' Dowan had thought the student would be in trouble, not Chulwoo. But it turned out the student was even more of a monster than Chulwoo. It was eerie, but at the same time, Dowan felt relieved, he was spared for today.
"What's your name?" Joon suddenly asked, breaking the silence that hung in the air after Chulwoo's defeat.
"Huh?" Ahrin was startled, realizing the student was looking at her, his question directed at her.
"I'm Ahrin Joon from class 7." She introduced, taking a deep breath to calm herself after everything that had happened.
'Ahrin Joon, huh?' Joon repeated the name in his head. He looked at her with interest, not because of her looks but because of her personality. It was rare to meet someone like her, someone genuinely kind. In his past life, he had only encountered double-faced people who pretended to be kind but turned the other way the next second. But Ahrin Joon was different. He could tell her kindness was real, something rare to find these days. That intrigued him.
"I'm Joon, from this class. Nice to meet you." Joon introduced himself.
Ahrin nodded, still looking a bit confused.
"I actually don't attend school often, so it's rare for anyone to notice me here." He added, seeing her confusion, which disappeared once she understood.
"Oh, nice to meet you too, Joon." Ahrin said, her cheerful expression returning. Now that she knew he was from this class, it made sense why she hadn't noticed him before, even though she often visited.
"By the way, thank you for helping me out." She said with a grateful smile. She was genuinely thankful he had stopped Chulwoo.
"No problem, I guess." Joon faintly smiled at her. He was surprised that he was holding such a simple conversation with someone his age. He couldn't remember the last time he had such an interaction, it was refreshing.
"By the way, you." Joon turned his head toward Dowan, who flinched at the sudden attention.
"Y-yeah?" Dowan stammered, startled.
"Your name is Dowan, right?" Joon asked, and Dowan nodded.
"You have ten seconds." Joon continued.
Dowan frowned, confused.
"In ten seconds, if you do nothing..." Joon paused, raising his right hand and pointing his thumb toward Ahrin, who looked just as confused. His smile widened slightly, his eyes locked onto Dowan's as he finished. "I'll kill her."
Silence fell over the classroom. A deafening silence where even the sound of breathing felt too loud.
A loud, nervous gulp broke the stillness.
'W-What?' Dowan froze, his body shaking, heart pounding, cold sweat soaking his skin. He couldn't understand, did he hear that right? Was Joon joking? What kind of joke was this?
"Yo-" He tried to speak, but the words stuck in his throat when he met Joon's eyes. They were cold, emotionless, like a machine. Paired with that unsettling smile, it sent chills down his spine.
Ahrin stood frozen, unable to process what she had just heard. Her mind raced with questions. Did he really mean that? Why would he say such a thing? He must be joking, right? But Joon's face had changed. His expression, his eyes, his smile, everything had turned disturbingly unreadable.
"Ten..."
Joon's voice rang out like a death knell, stabbing into both Dowan and Ahrin's hearts.
"Nine... eight... seven..." The countdown continued, yet neither moved, still in shock.
"Six... five... four..." The time was almost up, yet they remained frozen, unable to process it.
"Three... Two..."
"Huff, huff." Dowan breathed heavily, his stomach twisting. He didn't know if Joon was serious, but his body told him he was. Fear gripped him, but...
He gritted his teeth as sweat dripped from his forehead, falling to the ground.
"One."
"You crazy bastard!" Dowan roared, rushing at Joon, whose smile widened slightly.
Dowan threw a left punch at Joon's face, but Joon effortlessly caught it with his right hand.
'Damn it,' Dowan cursed inwardly, seeing how easily his attack was blocked. He gritted his teeth and launched a right punch, a desperate final attempt, but at that moment, a series of mechanical prompts echoed in his head.
[EXP Calculation Completed]
[You have full EXP]
[You've been promoted to rare class:]
[Promising Game Shuttle]
[You have full EXP]
[You've been promoted to legendary class:]
[Superior Game Shuttle]
[Class Specific Skill Unlocked]
[Crushing Blow]
Suddenly, Dowan's right hand blurred, transitioning into a flurry of consecutive punches aimed at Joon's face.
Ahrin gasped, surprised by Dowan's unexpected move.
Dowan felt his punches land, surprise and relief washing over him, until his eyes widened in disbelief. Joon stood completely unharmed, still smiling. His right hand was raised in front of him, a faint trail of smoke rising from his palm. The coldness in his eyes had faded, replaced with amusement.
'What a surprise.' Joon thought, glancing at his palm, where a slight stinging sensation remained. He had blocked all of Dowan's punches with ease, but he couldn't deny he was intrigued.
Joon analyzed the move Dowan had used. On the surface, it was just a series of consecutive blows, but that was precisely what made it shocking. Dowan shouldn't have been able to execute such an attack. His physique was far too weak to generate that level of speed and power. A normal punch was the most he should have been capable of. And yet, what Joon had just witnessed defied logic.
Joon was never wrong when it came to reading people. He knew, without a doubt, that Dowan lacked the physical capabilities to pull off such a maneuver. What was even more telling was that Dowan himself looked bewildered by his own actions. That confirmed Joon's suspicion, something beyond the natural was at play.
It could only mean one thing. Dowan had a system, and it had just activated.
The conclusion might have seemed absurd to most people, but Joon knew to expect the unexpected. The way Dowan fought, the sudden shift in his abilities, it fulfilled every condition for someone who had just awakened a system.
"Heh, not bad." Joon chuckled, releasing his grip on Dowan's fist. Dowan instinctively stepped back, uncertainty written all over his face.
"You had something like that up your sleeve. Tell me." Joon continued, eyes locked onto Dowan's hesitant expression. "Why didn't you use that against Chulwoo? If you had, you could've ended him in seconds."
"I… I don't know." Dowan hesitatingly answered.
'Bingo.' That slight hesitation, that flicker of ignorance in Dowan's answer, confirmed everything. He had a system. What kind? Joon wasn't sure yet, but that detail didn't matter.
"What's wrong?" Joon suddenly asked, noting Dowan's uneasy stare.
"You… aren't you going to…" Dowan trailed off, unable to finish the question.
"Oh, you mean my previous threat?" Joon's smile widened, causing Dowan to stiffen. He nodded quickly, while Ahrin, standing nearby, listened intently.
"It was just a joke."
'A joke?' Dowan and Ahrin had the same thought. That was a joke? The suffocating pressure, the cold intent, they had both felt it. Nothing about it seemed like a joke. The air of death that had surrounded them moments ago had felt too real to dismiss so easily.
But now, Joon's expression was different. His eyes and smile had returned to something… normal.
"Well, I'll be heading out now. See ya."
Without another word, Suhan turned and walked down the hallway, leaving both Ahrin and Dowan behind. As he strode away, his thoughts churned with amusement.
'This world is more interesting than I thought.'
The mere fact that Dowan had a system proved that. And if such a thing existed, then there had to be more. He was looking forward to whatever surprises the future held.
"Wait!"
A familiar voice called out, breaking his thoughts.
Joon halted and turned to see Ahrin running toward him. He watched her approach and, once she reached him, resumed walking at a steady pace, with her now beside him.
"What is it?" He asked, mildly curious.
"I want to ask you… why did you do that?" Ahrin's voice carried uncertainty, as though she was still trying to piece everything together.
"The threat?" Joon asked. Ahrin nodded.
"Well, it's not intentional to help on my part, but Dowan needs to stand up for himself more often." Joon's tone was casual. He noticed Ahrin glance at him, waiting for further explanation.
"You saw what he did back there against me, right?" He gave her a quick glance, and she nodded.
"What he used against me could have easily taken down Chulwoo, but fear stopped him. A little push like that will help him learn to fend for himself in the future."
His explanation was mixed with truth and lies. He wasn't about to say that Dowan has a system.
It had all been a coincidence. Joon's original intent had been to provoke Dowan just enough to see his reaction. Earlier, when Chulwoo had attacked Ahrin, Dowan had shown hesitation, he had wanted to step in but lacked the courage, but in the end he seemed like he was going to act despite the fear that gripped his body. That moment had piqued Joon's interest. Then, through sheer luck, he discovered that Dowan had a system. But even beyond that revelation, Joon recognized that Dowan possessed something else, a mental resilience slightly above the average person's since he was able to almost act against Chulwoo, and was able to act under the pressure of a death threat. That alone made him somewhat valuable.
"Is that so?" Ahrin nodded, a gentle smile forming on her lips.
Joon frowned slightly. How was she so trusting? No suspicion at all? Did she just believe whatever people told her?
He sighed. This girl was really something else.
"You're actually really kind." Ahrin remarked, keeping pace with him.
Her words caught Joon off guard.
He didn't react immediately, but something in her voice struck him. A moment later, Ahrin frowned in confusion. She turned to her side....
He was gone.
Startled, she looked back and found him standing a few steps behind her, eyes slightly widened as if something had just caught him off guard.
'Did she say I'm kind?' Joon thought in a daze. 'Me? Kind?' In what world did she see kindness in him? That word… it was foreign to him, something he had never once been called in his previous life. And why would he? He didn't deserve it.
He deserved to be called a devil, a demon incarnate, a vile human, scum, everything but kind. He had lived soaked in the blood of others, built his existence on destruction and pain. Mercy had never been a part of him. Compassion was a luxury he had long discarded.
Kind? No, he had never been kind. Not then. Not now. Not ever.
The amount of people he killed, here was uncountable. The blood on his hands could never be washed away, no matter how many lifetimes he lived. He had taken lives without hesitation, ruined families, and crushed dreams without remorse. He was feared, hated, and cursed, rightfully so. The weight of his past sins was something he had long accepted, something he believed he could never escape.
So how could she, of all people, call him kind?
Was she blind to what he truly was? Or was it ignorance? Perhaps she simply didn't know the kind of monster he used to be. But even if she didn't, it didn't change the truth. He wasn't kind. He had never been.
And yet, despite knowing all of this, why did those words make his chest feel strangely heavy? Why did they linger in his mind like an echo refusing to fade?
Joon blinked, snapping out of his daze as Ahrin's concerned voice reached him.
"Huh?" He looked at her, noting the worry in her expression.
"Are you okay? You seemed... off for a moment." Ahrin asked, her brows furrowed.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Joon reassured, then tilted his head slightly. "But what did you mean by calling me kind?"
"What do I mean?" Ahrin frowned, contemplating his question as they continued walking side by side.
Joon nodded, prompting her to elaborate.
"Well." Ahrin began, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. "Even if you say it wasn't intentional, you still helped Dowan. Whether you admit it or not, that makes you a kind person. Others might not see you that way, but I do."
Her warm smile accompanied her words, catching Joon off guard once again. He scoffed lightly, but a genuine smile tugged at his lips.
"Hmph, is that so?" He mused, more to himself than to her.
"If only you knew." He mumbled under his breath.
"Hmm? Did you say something?" Ahrin asked, glancing at him curiously.
"Nope. You're imagining things." Joon replied smoothly, slipping his hands into his pockets. For some reason, he felt... at ease. comfortable, even. And he knew exactly why. His gaze flickered toward Ahrin for a brief moment before he turned back ahead.
"Joon, my friends are waiting in the cafeteria. Wanna join?" Ahrin suddenly asked, remembering the group she had nearly forgotten about.
"Sure." Joon agreed without hesitation.
As they made their way to the cafeteria, he couldn't help but reflect.
'Maybe school isn't so bad after all.'
A small smirk played on his lips.
Maybe, just maybe, this world would be different from his previous one. And for the first time in a long while, he found himself looking forward to what came next.