Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: The Reclusive Master: Defeat Go Su-jong
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My mind was going blank.
Sitting on a bus stop bench, staring blankly ahead, I realized this wouldn't do.
I had to find some way out.
First, I checked how much money I had.
The transportation money from the quest reward was long gone.
Rummaging through my pockets in hopes of finding something, all I pulled out was my student ID, which I'd forgotten about during the dorm stay.
I examined the student ID closely.
[On Raon | Hanla Performing Arts High School
Valid until 02/19 (month/year)
Date of birth 00/01/30]
The first day I got it, I'd only checked the birth year before jumping into filming. This was the first time looking at it properly.
The birthday matched mine perfectly, so I could answer without hesitation if anyone asked.
Flipping it over, I saw something written in black marker.
[Home address: Busan Metropolitan City, Haeundae-gu...]
The English on the front was neatly written, but the Korean on the back, detailing what seemed to be an apartment in Busan, was a bit crooked.
The fact that it was written here... Does this mean it's the player character's home address?
Even if it was the real address, I couldn't get from Paju to Busan right now, so it was useless in my current situation.
Then I belatedly remembered the school issue.
It had been so long since I'd gone to school that I hadn't even thought about it, but in Korea, 18 years old usually meant second year of high school.
No way... On top of the military, do I have to go back to school too?
As my future seemed even more hopeless with that dreadful thought...
With the system saying that right now, it seemed the player character was set up as not attending school.
Since he had a student ID, maybe he attended for a bit and then dropped out. Just like me.
It felt like I was playing a detective game, piecing together clues to solve problems.
Anyway, that was a relief.
It's the system, after all. It wouldn't cheat on something like this.
Staring at the student ID, I noticed it still had a valid expiration date and included a debit card function.
Just in case, I checked the balance on the one banking app on my phone.
Thankfully, I could unlock it with my fingerprint.
Are you kidding me? Unless they deliberately set it that way, no account just drops exactly to 10,000 won.
I'd bet my entire fortune of 10,000 won that this was another system trick.
Ah, my blood pressure...
A bus arrived shortly after, so I got on for now. Life is about moving forward, after all.
- Beep. Student fare.
Now balance: 8,900 won...
Thankfully, the student ID's card function hadn't been canceled.
After paying 1,100 won and enjoying the bus heater, I got off when hunger became unbearable.
Those cheap bastards. They send us out at 1 PM without even lunch? How heartless.
They probably did it to save money.
Passing a street vendor, I bought a bag of fish-shaped buns for 1,000 won via bank transfer and walked while eating absentmindedly, ending up in a quiet citizen's park.
Elders were playing Janggi under the park pavilion.
My legs hurt too, so sitting on the bench platform, I was nibbling the tail of the last bun.
One elder watching the Janggi board spoke to me.
"What're you doing here in broad daylight, young kid?"
"Just... resting..."
"I see. You fought with your mom and ran away from home, huh?"
The elder's gaze was on the suitcase beside me.
"...We didn't fight."
"You don't know how tough it is out here? Go home before it's too late."
If only I had a home to go to.
As I stayed silent, the elder spoke again.
"Do you know how to play Janggi?"
"I was the champ of Sohyun Elementary School's Janggi club."
"Then let's play a game. These old folks won't play with me."
"Why not?"
"They say it's no fun 'cause I'm too good."
The elder pulled the idle Janggi board and pieces toward us.
"In that case, On Raon shall stake the honor of Sohyun Elementary Janggi Club and challenge you."
"Alright. Give it a shot."
It had been ages since I'd played Janggi, so I struggled a bit early on, but by the third game, I won decisively, upholding the honor of Sohyun Elementary Janggi Club.
The rewards are sweet.
Want to go another round?
The elder, looking surprised at my skill, cleared his throat awkwardly with a hem-hem.
One grandfather who had come to watch from the previous evenly matched game asked,
"That kid plays really well. Who taught you?"
"An AI..."
"AI?"
I'm a smart gaming addict who even placed third in a mobile Janggi tournament, you know.
Then another elder pointed off to the side.
"Whoa, Go Su-jong's here."
"What?"
"Here he comes."
Wondering who it was, we all turned to look.
A certain elderly gentleman approaching with hands behind his back exuded an aura different from the others gathered here.
What was different? For starters, his outfit.
A navy checkered vest over a white turtleneck, topped with a gray wool coat—it wasn't ordinary.
'Stylish guy.'
Like a real estate tycoon chatting land prices on the golf course.
"Greetings."
"Long time no see."
"The weather warmed up, so I came out."
After exchanging greetings with the familiar faces already there, the grandfather spotted me standing awkwardly and asked,
"Who's this kid?"
"Ah, he ran away from home."
"I didn't run away!"
"Sure you didn't. Don't waste time with us old folks—go home and have some hot rice soup."
"Well, it's not running away, but I have nowhere to go..."
The elders' looks screamed "quit the bullshit."
Even I was dumbfounded saying it.
Go Su-jong eyed me steadily, then smiled mildly and spoke.
"Shall we play a wager Janggi game?"
"A wager?"
"If I win, you go home nicely."
"And if I win?"
"Since you left, you probably have nowhere to go. I'll let you stay at my place."
As soon as the grandfather finished speaking, a quest popped up.
The Reclusive Master: Defeat Go Su-jong
📍 Description: Go Su-jong has proposed a wager Janggi game. Defeat him and secure a place to sleep tonight.
🎁 Confirmed Reward: Intelligence +10, Temporary Lodging (Go Su-jong's House)
❌ On Failure: Spend the night under the starry sky with no blanket.
"Yes! Let's do it! I accept!"
I answered quickly, and an elder nearby clicked his tongue.
"See? Jumping at it like that proves he ran away."
Ah, I didn't! So unfair.
Anyway, the Janggi board was set up more grandly than before.
Even elders from other games came to watch.
Grandpa Go Su-jong was no joke.
The moment I let my guard down, my lifeline was chipped away from somewhere.
Concentrating so hard that sweat beaded on my forehead in the chilly air.
The real trouble was the elders chiming in every time I showed hesitation.
Probably because I was young.
Play this. Play that. Discard that. You'll throw away a win like that. Don't capture there, capture over here. Promote your piece. Oh man, don't play sloppy after doing well—come on...
...This won't do. I stood up abruptly and shouted,
"Elders!"
"Huh?"
"My life's guiding light, Admiral Yi Sun-sin, once said something."
Actually, it was Muk Hye-seong until this morning, but role models change weekly, right?
"Admiral Yi Sun-sin?"
"Yes! He left many famous sayings, but one in particular comes to mind right now."
"What's that?"
"'If you cling to life, you die; if you seek death, you live.' I know, I know. You're thinking, 'What's this kid babbling about?'"
The elders nodded with hums.
"But! Think about it. Your countless pieces of advice, forged from fierce Janggi lives, sound like you're telling me just to survive. Against this district's top dog, the resident master Go Su-jong Grandpa, survival is my best?!"
Grandpa Go Su-jong chuckled heartily.
"But that won't win! Clinging to survival leads to defeat as my limit! So, I'll charge into the jaws of death by my own will. Please watch how I overcome adversity. Thank you."
"Runaway punk's got a slick tongue."
"I didn't run away!"
"Yeah, yeah. Do as you like. We're done interfering."
This damn system? Who's the one talking nonsense?
Anyway, with the surroundings quieting down, I could focus much better on my moves.
The elders, no longer interfering, said the young lad seemed hungry and fed me chestnuts and traditional sweets from their plastic bags. Delicious.
"......"
But crisis struck eventually. I was going to lose like this. My instincts screamed it.
Ah, no. The thought of sleeping rough in this weather chilled my spine.
Thankfully, I had a trump card to overcome this.
"Phone a friend! Can I use it?"
"Phone a friend?"
"Yes. Even the admiral didn't fight alone—he overcame harsh battlefields with trusted comrades..."
"Talkative. If you want, once only."
"Yes, sir."
I'd exchanged numbers with my roommates before parting.
Excluding Nagase Ritsu, who had no usable Korean phone, three names were in my nearly empty contacts.
I called Ban Yo-han.
This intelligence character surely saw moves I couldn't. He had to.
After a few rings, Ban Yo-han's voice came through.
Battery at 5% now—I had to wrap it up fast.
- Hello?
"Hey, Yo-han hyung, the one I truly respect and trust."
- ......
"Hello?"
- It's just... embarrassingly sudden. Why'd you call?
This guy, even when I say nice things.
But I'm the desperate one.
I snapped a photo of the board and sent it to Ban Yo-han.
"Check what I just sent in chat. I have to win this, but I can only call one person. I called you because I trust you."
Hey, don't get the wrong idea.
It's not you I trust—it's your intelligence.
Moments later, Ban Yo-han gave a perfect, innovative move that made my eyes widen.
"Whoa, hyung, you're a genius. Total fork."
- But why Janggi out of nowhere?
"Just a wager game."
- ...You didn't bet money, right?
"No. Winner gets a place to crash."
- What? What do you mean? Tell me more...
Click.
"...Ah, battery died."
Eh, said what needed saying, and explaining my homelessness is awkward anyway.
Back to the game.
"All set?"
"Yes. I have no weaknesses now."
"We'll see."
"Resuming."
"Go ahead."
And thanks to that guy whose intelligence stat is surely 999, I seized the advantage through the breakthrough.
Next time I see him, repay with a tight hug. Though Ban Yo-han might not take it as thanks.
"General!"
"Sigh, I lost. Lost."
"Good game."
"Wow, that was a masterpiece."
Sudden Quest <The Reclusive Master: Defeat Go Su-jong> Success!
🎁 Confirmed Rewards: Intelligence +10, Temporary Lodging (Go Su-jong's House) granted.
Go Su-jong, with his wrinkled smile, said,
"A promise is a promise. Follow me."