Arena (1)
“Ah, I don’t wanna go.”
Choi Yun-seok muttered glumly. His smartphone screen, clutched in his hand right after waking up, displayed a text from the so-called “friend” summoning him. In truth, they were the same age, but calling him a friend was a stretch. Enemy would be more accurate.
The guy had relentlessly bullied Yun-seok from elementary school all the way to adulthood.
He considered pretending he hadn’t seen it since he’d been asleep, but...
Yun-seok hurriedly threw on some clothes and rushed out to the main road to hail a taxi. It was already 1:30 a.m.—long past the last subway.
He let out a sigh.
I’m already scraping by on living expenses as it is...
But he couldn’t afford not to go. Skipping out would only make his family’s already dire situation even worse.
Soon, he caught a cab and headed to Gangnam. The address Kang Hyung-woo had sent was for M Club. True to its reputation as a wild hotspot, the entrance was lined with flashy-dressed men and women even at this hour, stretching out in a long queue.
“Ugh!”
As Yun-seok joined the line, stares poured in. Mixed with the pounding music were snickers and mocking laughs.
“Who’s that guy? First time here?”
“Dressed like that? Instant dress code violation.”
“Whatever, let him waste his time.”
Yun-seok stared at the ground, pretending not to hear. As if he didn’t know. Faded jeans and a puffy jacket weren’t getting him into a place like this.
The line dwindled, and soon it was his turn.
“Sorry, but your outfit violates our dress code. No entry.”
“I’ve got a friend inside.”
The bouncer smirked at Yun-seok’s plea. M Club was one of Gangnam’s hottest spots. Guys trying every trick to sneak in were a dime a dozen.
“Then meet him outside separately.”
Faced with the man’s rigid stance, Yun-seok checked the time. Less than five minutes until Hyung-woo’s deadline. No way the guy would show mercy if he explained.
He’ll blow up and blame it all on me for sure...
As he prepared to beg once more, salvation arrived for Yun-seok. A manager out for some air happened to spot him.
The manager barked at the bouncer, “Hey, let him in!”
“Huh? Bro, but...”
“The friend he’s talking about is Kang Hyung-woo.”
“K-Kang Hyung-woo? The chaebol heir?”
“Yeah, idiot.”
The bouncer’s eyes screamed disbelief. No matter how you looked at it, Yun-seok didn’t scream “Hyung-woo’s friend.” But with the manager’s okay, he couldn’t block him.
“He’s in Room 17. Hurry up.”
The club manager waved him off dismissively. Yun-seok gave a quick nod of thanks and stepped inside.
The group of college girls behind him, who’d overheard everything, buzzed with curiosity.
“Whoa, no way! He’s friends with Kang Hyung-woo? Lucky bastard.”
“No way he’s chaebol too, right?”
“Look at his clothes.”
“You don’t get it? Tons of rich people dress down on purpose.”
The girls probably had no clue. Yun-seok wasn’t chaebol, and strictly speaking, not even friends with Kang Hyung-woo. To Hyung-woo, he was just a fun toy to mess with.
“You’re here?”
Opening the door revealed scattered empty bottles and a overpowering stench of heavy cologne. Everyone else had been cleared out—only Kang Hyung-woo remained, sprawled out.
Hyung-woo eyed Yun-seok and grumbled, “You’re late.”
No, he wasn’t. The hassle at the entrance had eaten up time, but it was still 1:59 a.m. Barely safe.
But Hyung-woo glanced at his luxury watch—a brand anyone would recognize. He unstrapped it and tossed it on the table.
“My watch runs five minutes fast, you know that? Or did you forget?”
Drunk and staggering, Hyung-woo approached, raising his hand threateningly toward Yun-seok.
“S-sorry... They wouldn’t let me in at the door...”
Yun-seok flinched instinctively. Hyung-woo paused, then looked at him with pathetic disdain before lowering his hand.
“Ugh, you moron. What’s the point in hitting you? Here, keys. Car’s in the front lot. Stick around till I check out and pay.”
“Got it.”
Hyung-woo’s face was twisted in irritation, but Yun-seok, well-acquainted with him over the years, knew better.
He’s in a good mood tonight.
That’s why he let the tardiness slide without much fuss. But one more slip-up, and it’d flip. The better the mood, the more explosive the rage.
Yun-seok snatched the keys and headed out, parking the car at the entrance before Hyung-woo emerged.
“Where to? Home?”
“Nah, crashing at a hotel tonight. And my head hurts, so shut up and drive.”
“Okay.”
Yun-seok drove carefully. Thanks to his precise handling, Hyung-woo soon passed out in the back seat.
The car rolled on to JC Hotel in Jongno—a subsidiary of the JC Group, where Hyung-woo’s father was chairman.
“Hyung-woo, we’re here. Wake up.”
“...Fucking loser. Why live like this? Heh.”
“C’mon, get up. I’ll help you.”
Hyung-woo shoved Yun-seok’s hand away like it was filthy trash. He stumbled into the hotel. Yun-seok kept his distance, trailing until he confirmed Hyung-woo entered his room.
All the while, Hyung-woo muttered the same line over and over.
“Loser bitch. You know that? You’re a loser. A filthy fucking loser...”
No need to emphasize it—Yun-seok knew he was a loser. But maybe it was the unusually clear night sky? His clenched fists trembled fiercely.
“Haa...”
Leaving the hotel, Yun-seok lit a cigarette—one of the bad habits he’d picked up in the army. He slumped on an empty park bench. With the awkward hour and to save on cab fare, he planned to wait for the first bus.
But sitting idle brought unwelcome thoughts flooding in.
Should’ve just stuck it out in the army?
Most dreaded their service time, but not Yun-seok. Ironically, the military was where he’d felt true freedom in ages. At least Kang Hyung-woo wasn’t there.
Nah, that would’ve caused a shitstorm.
Yun-seok and Hyung-woo had gone through elementary, middle, and high together. Same class seven times, no less. If Yun-seok’s dad hadn’t run a subcontractor for JC Auto, maybe they’d have been real buddies.
Shouldn’t have fought back then...
Now, he was just a faithful servant to his master—nothing more, nothing less. But it hadn’t always been that way.
In early elementary, they’d been on good terms, laughing and playing at school. But over some trivial kid spat, they’d thrown punches. Both sets of parents showed up.
And the truth came out: the absolute hierarchy between their families.
Yun-seok’s dad begged on his knees until they were raw. Hyung-woo’s dad laughed it off. Seemed resolved peacefully.
But not for Hyung-woo. After that, he hounded Yun-seok relentlessly. Too young to grasp reality fully, Yun-seok vaguely thought he had to endure, recalling his dad on his knees.
Thus, Yun-seok became Hyung-woo’s slave. Did whatever ordered, took beatings without fight. Even into adulthood, nothing changed.
Has it changed, though?
In middle school, the humiliation boiled his blood. Now? Numb, like a lab rat. Self-esteem shattered to dust. Hyung-woo’s constant insults had worked. Yun-seok lost all drive root and stem. Convinced he’d fail at anything. So yeah, “loser” wasn’t wrong.
He didn’t even crave victory anymore. But as a kid? Surely he had that burning will to overcome hardship and win.
The Tower of Heaven has chosen you.
Had he dozed off on the bench? A towering spire loomed before Yun-seok’s eyes. His senses blurred, as if submerged in warm water. Yet a voice whispered incessantly in his ear.
Open the door. Enter the tower.
Yun-seok did just that.
Choose your trial.
Beyond the door stretched a vast space with four imposing statues. Yun-seok read the inscriptions beneath them.
[Adventure], [Exploration], [Mission], [Duel]
Each statue emanated a brilliant glow. But one light dazzled above the rest, drawing his soul like a magnet.
Yun-seok approached the Statue of Duel as if entranced, touching its surface.
Until then, he had no inkling of his extraordinary talent. Or the events awaiting him.
Prepare yourself. The duel will begin shortly.
And just like that, the genre of his life changed.