Ding.
[Balance Updated: +15,000 KRW]
The words flickered softly in front of Lee Jihoon, blending with the rhythmic motion of the subway as it hurtled forward. The train was filled with the usual morning commuters—heads bowed, eyes glued to their phones, completely detached from their surroundings.
Jihoon, however, sat frozen in place.
I just earned money… from giving up my seat?
It wasn't a massive amount. 15,000 KRW wouldn't change his life, but… it was real.
His fingers trembled slightly as he pulled out his phone, navigating to his banking app. His heart thumped against his ribs. If this system was a hallucination, a joke, or some kind of elaborate scam, then surely his bank balance wouldn't change.
But there it was.
An extra 15,000 KRW had been deposited into his account.
Jihoon exhaled sharply, his breath shaky.
This is real.
The realization sent a thrill down his spine. He had made money—actual, tangible money—simply by helping others.
His mind raced. How far does this go? Is there a limit? What counts as kindness?
He glanced around the subway car. His eyes landed on a man struggling to balance a briefcase, a coffee cup, and a phone at the same time. Would helping him count as an act of kindness?
Jihoon hesitated.
If every minor act of assistance granted him money, wouldn't that make it too easy to exploit? What if he just held doors open all day? Would the system keep rewarding him infinitely?
No. There has to be a rule.
His fingers twitched with the urge to experiment. But before he could act, the subway slowed, the doors hissed open, and the station's automated announcement echoed through the speakers.
It was his stop.
He sighed, pushing the thoughts aside for now. Stepping off the train, he was quickly swept up into the river of office workers, all dressed in identical shades of gray and black, moving mechanically toward the towering skyscrapers of Seoul's financial district.
By the time Jihoon reached his desk, the initial thrill of the system had been buried under an avalanche of corporate responsibilities.
Emails piled up. Deadlines loomed over him. Meetings stretched for hours.
"Jihoon, I need the client analysis by noon."
"Jihoon, the boss wants you in the strategy meeting later."
"Jihoon, can you cover for me? I have a dentist appointment."
It was the same suffocating routine. But today, something was different.
For the first time in years, Jihoon felt a sliver of anticipation rather than dread.
The system was still there. Hovering. Waiting.
He wasn't just working for a paycheck anymore. He had something more.
Lunchtime arrived faster than expected. Jihoon found himself in the company cafeteria, seated across from Kevin Park, his best friend and co-worker.
Kevin, as usual, was attacking his food with enthusiasm. "Dude, are you gonna eat that, or are you just gonna stare at it?"
Jihoon absentmindedly poked at his lackluster meal—a sad convenience store kimbap and a cup of instant miso soup.
"You've been weirdly quiet today," Kevin said, chewing noisily.
Jihoon hesitated, then put his chopsticks down. "...Hey, Kevin. Have you ever thought about kindness?"
Kevin raised an eyebrow. "What, like charity work?"
"Not exactly," Jihoon said. "I mean… just doing something nice for people. Randomly. No reason."
Kevin narrowed his eyes. "Dude, are you having an existential crisis? Did your landlord raise the rent again?"
Jihoon sighed. Maybe I shouldn't have asked him.
Before he could change the topic, Hana Yoo, one of the new interns, hurried past their table. She carried a tray of food, her hands visibly trembling.
Right before reaching her seat—her foot caught on the leg of a chair.
Crash.
The tray tumbled forward, and her food went flying. Rice, kimchi, and soup splattered across the floor.
For a few seconds, the cafeteria was completely silent.
Hana stood frozen, her face rapidly turning red as dozens of eyes focused on her.
Jihoon immediately felt a familiar nudge in his mind.
[Potential Kindness Opportunity Detected.]
He didn't hesitate.
Standing up, he grabbed a handful of napkins and knelt beside her. "Are you okay?"
Hana looked like she wanted to disappear. "I—I'm so sorry, I—"
"Don't worry about it," Jihoon interrupted gently, already dabbing at the spilled soup. "It happens to everyone."
A few whispers spread across the cafeteria, but Jihoon ignored them. Why do people enjoy watching someone struggle instead of helping?
Kevin, finally catching on, stood up too. "Hey, let me help." He grabbed a few extra napkins and joined Jihoon in cleaning up.
A cafeteria worker rushed over with a mop. "I'll handle the mess, but let's get you another meal, miss."
Hana nodded quickly, her hands still shaking. "...Thank you."
As she hurried off, Jihoon sat back down, brushing rice off his sleeve.
Ding.
[Small Act of Kindness Completed!]
Reward: 7,500 KRW
Jihoon resisted the urge to smirk. So even small things like this count?
Kevin chuckled. "Man, you're really out here being a good Samaritan today, huh?"
Jihoon shrugged. "Just felt like the right thing to do."
Kevin grinned. "Well, next time, do something kind for me. Like paying for my lunch."
Jihoon rolled his eyes. That's not how kindness works, Kevin.
An Experiment in Kindness
As the afternoon dragged on, Jihoon's mind wasn't on work anymore.
His fingers hovered over his keyboard as he stared at his bank account. 22,500 KRW.
It was small, but the implications were massive.
Could he live off kindness?
Was there a daily limit to the system?
There was only one way to find out.
After work, instead of heading home, Jihoon made a detour to a small flower shop near the subway station.
A young woman, probably in her early twenties, stood behind the counter, absentmindedly arranging a bouquet.
"Welcome! How can I help you?"
Jihoon glanced around before pointing at a bouquet of fresh carnations. "I'll take those."
The woman blinked. "Oh! Are they for someone special?"
Jihoon hesitated.
"...Yeah. They are."
Ding.
[Small Act of Kindness Completed!]
Reward: 10,000 KRW
Jihoon stepped out onto the bustling Seoul streets, a small smirk tugging at his lips.
Kindness paid.
And he was just getting started.
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