The Trophy That Will Make Me Shine
'Talent paired with diligence looks like this.'
Even when she couldn't achieve results, and even after gaining satisfactory ones, she aimed higher, honing herself relentlessly. That was the essence of Eunseo's talent.
Eunseo, who had seemed so young, hid a maturity deep within. Suddenly, she appeared even more beautiful.
Instead of settling for Yeonhui University admission, she aimed for Seoral University. As a former third-time repeater, he knew it well. No ordinary ambition or self-improvement drive could lead to such a decision.
He himself could never have made it. Given her level of talent fused with diligence, her re-challenge was bound to succeed.
'Admission to Seoral University.'
For three straight years at 19, 20, and 21, it had been his heartfelt dream. No—not a dream he could even dare wish for, knowing it was impossible.
Eunseo was challenging that very dream. A heaviness settled in his chest.
"...You'll do great, Eunseo. I'll cheer you on."
Noticing his changed expression and assuming it was her fault, Eunseo hurriedly poured out words.
"But we can still KakaoTalk, right...? After the CSAT, I'll treat you to a meal! Let's make plans after the CSAT!"
Her demeanor was so endearing it made him chuckle at himself, his lips curving up involuntarily. He took a sip of cold water to shake off the weight and met her gaze.
"Oppa... you're not mad, right? Hiiing..."
"Huh? No, no. Why would I be mad?"
On the contrary. She seemed even more attractive now.
'Guess I need to work harder too.'
Grinning, he stroked her hair once more.
"Our next date can be a CSAT success celebration dinner. I'll treat you to something expensive."
Watching her face flush bright red at the word "date," he laughed again.
Ever since hearing that Eunseo was preparing for the CSAT, his mood had been strange.
'What is this feeling?'
Pondering deeply, he realized it. The emotion he felt now was awe.
Contrary to her innocent face and childish antics, Eunseo was ceaselessly striving to become a better version of herself. If adulthood was measured by maturity, she seemed more adult than him.
Watching her sparked a new emotion he'd never felt before.
The desires registered in the Desire Fulfillment App totaled three. The largest was lust. But the first and most fundamental one was...
Change Desire senses light from Lee Eunseo.
...the desire for change, to become a "better self." Eunseo was realizing the very desire for transformation that he harbored and strived for—through her own will alone.
Realizing this, his desire reacted to Eunseo.
The shining her—he wanted to have her.
User's desire changes.
He'd never felt any real emotion toward the women he'd slept with. The hundred-plus from clubs, Lee Seonyeong, Kim Soyeon, Shim Uran—they were mere conquests out of necessity.
Objects of lust, perhaps, but he'd never desired them themselves.
But Eunseo... he wanted to possess her.
Before yesterday's conversation, it had been a vague wish to enjoy her as she blossomed over time into even greater beauty. Now, it crystallized into a clear desire to have her.
Suddenly, it hit him.
'The past affected me more deeply than I thought.'
Was it an unconscious avoidance mechanism from the Kim Hyeonseo incident? Or had his frustrated desires twisted and festered, warping his mind?
He should have realized it sooner—his affection for them was far lower than theirs for him.
A bitter smile crossed his lips. He was broken somewhere. Otherwise, he couldn't treat someone he'd grown that intimate with as mere sexual relief.
'Now that I realize it, it doesn't matter.'
In this moment, a new criterion formed within him.
Relationships for pleasure, like playing with toys. And those he truly wanted to possess.
The desire to own someone else. Perhaps proof that he was recognizing others' value.
He reflected on his feelings for Eunseo again. Not quite "want to date" or "love," but closer to wanting to possess Eunseo as a being.
Desire Fulfillment App reacts to user's desire.
New desire 'Possession Desire' registered.
With possession desire outweighing love or affection, realizing his deficiency didn't erase the inner twist.
'Whatever, it's fine at this level.'
What mattered was finding fuel for further growth. To possess someone, you had to become greater than them.
Possession Desire anticipates fruition.
Quest—Possess Lee Eunseo—generated.
Possess Lee Eunseo
📍 Description: Lee Eunseo believes she is a virgin. Make her desire sex without direct intercourse.
🎁 Reward: 700 GP
Possession Desire and Vanity Desire scream.
Quest—Blooming Flower Bud—generated.
Blooming Flower Bud
📍 Description: Awaken Lee Eunseo, who will soon become the user's possession, in the near future. (During quest period, appearance correction limited to Lee Eunseo is possible. However, GP consumption doubles.)
🎁 Reward: 500 GP
'700 GP, 500 GP? That's huge.'
The highest rewards yet among all quests. It meant his current emotions and desires were intensely powerful.
The first person he truly wanted to possess. He would have Eunseo, no matter what.
'Suddenly surging with energy. Motivation really is key.'
He opened the Desire Fulfillment App.
Greed Realize
Registered Desires: Lust, Change Desire, Money Desire, Vanity Desire, Possession Desire
Desire Points:1124 GP
He jotted down his achievements in a notebook, organizing them.
— Reality Correction (Self, Lee Eunseo)
— Beauty Skin
— Real Profile Lv2
— Album Search
— Manipulation Edit
— Love Weapon (Penis, Mouth) Lv2
— Contact Care
— Stamina Boost
— Body Analysis
— Event Alarm
He skipped a couple of one-night stand updates—useless features.
'Next, quest list.'
• Pleasure Addict Observation.
• Man Who Receives Affection.
• Path of the Popular Masseur. 13/100
• Ada Breaker. 0/5
• Possess Lee Eunseo.
• Blooming Flower Bud.
1124 GP accumulated—enough for one or two updates. Reviewing the list, he pondered his next moves.
'Entrance exams. Should I try again?'
His first desire had been acing the CSAT for a prestigious university, adorning his ordinary self with that title.
Vanity Desire and Change Desire react.
Eunseo reignited his past desire. He wanted to pin the prestigious university badge—especially the grand, glittering Seoral University trophy—onto his renewed self.
Suddenly, he realized.
'Failing the exams was a bigger trauma than I thought.'
It made sense. Six years wasted. And a messy end—blinded by Kim Hyeonseo, derailed for months, ultimate failure.
Change Desire seeks to erase past patheticness.
But cramming now with a rigid mind wouldn't get him into Seoral. Plus, preparing was a time sink. With superhuman app powers, a diploma—even from Seoral—held little value.
Good universities were ultimately for money. Better to tackle Money Desire quests and launch app-powered businesses for better ROI.
'...I know. Logically, I know.'
Yet the flames of his soul's deepest desire raged fiercer. Past obsession: exams. Fastest current path: business.
Which to choose?
All user desires propose.
In that instant, enlightenment struck. Did he have to abandon one?
As the Desire Fulfillment App's master, he could seize both.
Change Desire and Money Desire blaze.
Quest—The First Trophy That Will Make Me Shine—generated.
The First Trophy That Will Make Me Shine
📍 Description: Register for the CSAT, submit university applications, and take the exam.
🎁 Reward: Function update enabling desire fulfillment.
Change Desire and Money Desire blaze.
Quest—The Second Trophy That Will Make Me Shine—generated.
The Second Trophy That Will Make Me Shine
📍 Description: "Path of the Popular Masseur" quest absorbs into "The First Trophy That Will Make Me Shine" quest.
📍 Become the top masseur at Aesthetic Nonhyeon.
📍 Receive 100 customers. 19/100
🎁 Reward: WeLike — Reality Correction other-target restriction lifted.
Gazing at the two new quests, he resolved anew. No matter what, he would never abandon his desires.