Chapter 5
Chapter 5
While the team leader went to get coffee, I sat there in a daze, staring again at my surreal account.
A profit close to seventy million won—it was unbelievable.
I pinched my cheek with my hand.
It hurt.
This wasn’t a dream.
It was really my money.
I had invested real money, not a demo account, and earned real returns.
Making money felt this exhilarating.
Nothing compared to winning at jjaljjal-i.
I felt like I owned the world.
I, who earned barely 1.5 million won a month at 10,000 won an hour, had made seventy million won in less than an hour?
It wouldn’t have been possible without a securities firm.
Securities, finance.
Now I understood why so many people strived to get into securities firms or major investment banks.
At the same time, I cursed my own ignorance for not knowing this until now.
It was late, but I resolved to work hard from here on.
This was a land flowing with milk and honey.
And I had a secret ability that could conquer it.
Of course, it wasn’t an ability I could use whenever I wanted.
Thinking about it, a little regret crept in.
Earlier, when the price was not 50 won but 25 won, at a minus 50 percent,
‘If I had bought then…’
I could have earned about 150 million won, double what I made now.
‘Don’t be greedy.’
Perhaps if the Put ELW had fallen to 25 won, I might not have dared to buy it.
Then I would have earned nothing.
But what should I do with seventy million won?
The thought of reinvesting all of it to make even more money was strong.
But I changed my mind.
Books said reinvesting all profits was foolish.
True profit came when money was moved out of the account. That’s real profit, they emphasized.
The books advised taking part of the profits separately, whether for spending or saving.
It was a precaution for when future investments might fail.
I decided to follow that advice.
From the total of 80 million won—the original capital plus seventy million in profit—I left 50 million as seed money, gave 20 million to my parents, and returned the remaining 10 million to the team leader.
I wanted to ease my parents’ worries about interest and financial stress.
Once I decided that, my mind felt much lighter.
On the way to the café for coffee, Kim Yuri felt dazed.
It was an unreal sensation, as if her feet were floating above the ground.
Sixty-nine million won in profit.
A 685 percent return.
She couldn’t believe a rookie investor made that much.
Of course, beginners sometimes get lucky.
But there’s a limit. Maximum luck usually brings about 200 percent.
Over 500 percent, close to 700 percent?
That was closer to skill than luck.
But was Deok-su a master?
No.
He still lacked basic knowledge of economics, finance, and industry.
‘Could it be his innate mental strength?’
Becoming a world-class investor requires many conditions, but the most important is mental strength.
Legendary investors survive and rise because of their beastly hearts.
It’s innate—a talent that cannot be gained through effort.
‘How did he endure it? Did he inherit a beast’s heart?’
She remembered Deok-su’s calm demeanor even at minus 50 percent.
He had clearly suffered a huge loss.
For an ordinary investor, telling him to hold might make sense.
But if a securities trader’s position dropped to minus 50 percent?
That’s a death sentence.
A trader must cut losses before reaching -5% or -10%.
Risk management.
Traders must minimize losses as a habit.
If losses exceed their limit, they must cut decisively.
It’s not easy, but it’s essential for survival—and for becoming great.
Yet Deok-su endured a minus 50 percent loss and achieved nearly 700 percent profit.
If…
If he had sold the Put ELWs at 25 won, as she had suggested, what would have happened?
Kim Yuri shivered, imagining Deok-su’s eyes blaming her.
‘Disastrous.’
Her head throbbed.
She had put him into the chaotic derivatives market to teach humility through failure.
But it wasn’t just profit—it was hundreds of percent in gains.
Humility was out the window.
She worried his arrogance would soar.
‘Well, knowing Deok-su, he probably won’t completely change.’
Still, people are unpredictable.
She had witnessed countless times how people changed in front of money.
She trusted the corrupting power of money over human nature.
But she shook her head, clearing her thoughts. She realized she was overthinking.
‘It’s only been twice.’
It was premature to worry about Deok-su’s nature or to judge him as a legendary investor.
“Can I take your order?”
“Oh, yes. One iced Americano, extra shot, and one iced vanilla latte with added syrup, please.”
Deok-su liked his coffee strong.
Bitter like life, bitter like the drink—he liked it that way.
She assumed it was a matter of taste.
“That’ll be 8,500 won.”
As he reached for his card,
“Add a double shot of espresso too.”
Kim Yuri turned her head.
A man in his mid-30s smiled at her slyly.
Kim Yu-seong, Risk Management Team, always had a mischievous grin.
Her irritation grew.
“Buy it with your money, sir. You have plenty of corporate card limit.”
“It’s tastier to mooch.”
Kim Yuri rolled her eyes.
“I thought Team Leader Kim had only one intern in Team 9… a busy leader buying coffee, and the intern isn’t even doing his job? Should I call him over?”
“What are you talking about! It’s not like that.”
“Oh… so serious? Just joking.”
“Don’t call me for nonsense. You’ll regret it!”
“Kim Yuri, I’m still a department head. You can’t threaten a superior~”
Just as Kim Yuri was about to reply,
“Double shot espresso ready.”
Kim Yu-seong took the coffee, grinning, and greeted her.
“Thanks. I’ll enjoy it. Well, good work today.”
Watching his retreating figure, Kim Yuri realized she had overreacted.
When the intern was mentioned, she had panicked. Too sensitive.
Normally, she wouldn’t make such a mistake, but her mind was still half-dazed from the morning’s events.
She worried he might spread strange rumors.
Meanwhile, outside the café, Kim Yu-seong tilted his head.
Kim Yuri’s flare-up surprised him.
A small prank, and she acted so seriously.
‘This intern isn’t ordinary…’
He decided to watch him.
He downed the bittersweet espresso in one shot and got in the elevator.
“Drink.”
The team leader handed over the Americano.
“Extra shot… added?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you.”
I sipped the iced Americano.
The cold coffee soothed the burning fire inside.
I felt alive.
“Team leader, may I have your account number?”
“Why?”
“I’ll return the ten million won you lent me.”
“Ah…”
She shook her head in disbelief.
What’s wrong with him?
“You can’t withdraw today. Two days after selling. It’s basic, Deok-su. Common sense.”
Now I understood her expression earlier.
She was amazed that someone with almost no basic financial knowledge made money.
“Oh, right. I forgot. I’ll return it as soon as possible.”
“Good. Also…”
She spoke seriously, like something important.
“How does it feel, investing for real today?”
“I realized making money isn’t as hard as I thought.”
She sighed deeply, pressing her temples.
“And?”
“Losing money can also be easier than expected.”
She nodded.
“Right. In derivatives, you can make or lose money easily. So always be careful.”
“Yes.”
“What’s the original purpose of derivatives?”
“Hedging.”
Hedging reduces losses in investments.
For example, if I hold a lot of Stock A, its price drops, causing losses.
To reduce loss, buy instruments that gain when Stock A drops.
So, you buy Put ELWs for Stock A.
Even if Stock A falls, the Put ELW gains, offsetting the loss.
“Good. Use derivatives only as a supplement for hedging. Never make derivatives the main focus. Don’t forget that.”
“Yes.”
“What do you think of your profit today?”
“Just luck.”
“That’s a relief.”
She looked relieved. Probably worried I might underestimate the stock market after this success.
“But didn’t you say luck is also skill?”
“Ah, no… that’s…”
Flustered. Adorable, really.
I changed my tone.
“To reassure you, don’t worry too much.”
“What… worry? It’s just that I’m afraid you’ll lose it all and get fired.”
“I won’t take the market lightly even if I was lucky.”
Her tense expression softened.
“I learned something important today.”
“What?”
“If you analyze the market thoroughly, you can succeed greatly. Working here, I feel I can earn money I could never touch elsewhere… thank you for giving me this chance, Team Leader.”
“…Ah, yes.”
She stammered after hearing me.
‘Why suddenly stutter?’
Her face seemed slightly tense.
Had I worried her again? Probably not.
“I have work to finish, so I’ll go back.”
“Wait, I need to say something…”
“…?”
“I apologize for grabbing your mouse to sell the ELW earlier.”
I had surprised her earlier.
“I… understand.”
“I overstepped. I shouldn’t have, even as team leader. Sorry.”
“…It’s okay.”
“I’ll make sure it never happens again.”
Her genuine apology was impressive.
Admitting fault honestly—she looked great.
I returned to my seat as an intern and started work.
I summarized today’s market characteristics and recorded trades and returns in my trading log.
My first day had been hectic.
A little after 5 PM:
“Deok-su, let’s go! Time for our celebratory dinner!”
“Ah! Right.”
Like a bird unable to resist a mill, the team leader led me to a beef restaurant.
Celebrating the intern’s hire and welcoming the new intern. She drank less than last time, thankfully.
After two days of work, the weekend arrived.
I slept well at home and read investment books at my leisure.
Another happy Monday.
I arrived early.
Tidied Team 9’s space and printed research reports from each securities firm, leaving them on the team leader’s desk.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning.”
She smiled brightly entering the office.
I returned the smile.
Seeing the neatly arranged reports, she asked,
“Deok-su, did you do this?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you so much.”
“As an intern, it’s my job.”
She shook her head.
“No, this isn’t your job right now.”
“Really?”
“You should focus on demo investing and improving your returns.”
“Oh…”
The word “investing” made my heart race with excitement.
Meanwhile, in the Mirae Group chairman’s office.
A square-ish face, small stature, broad shoulders.
More like a retired athlete than a chairman.
Kim Tae-sung, chairman who built Mirae Group from scratch.
“Here’s the list of interns accepted at Mirae Securities.”
The secretary handed over the file.
Kim Tae-sung glanced at it and asked,
“I heard our youngest has an intern. Who is it?”
“Kim Deok-su. Last on the list.”
His gaze sharpened.