The early morning sky stretched wide and pale above Seongcheon village, its colors gently warming like a stove dialed to low heat. Joon sat at the edge of the old farming road, just outside town, where only one bar of mobile signal flickered in and out. His laptop balanced on his knees, a thermos of barley tea beside him.
He wasn't here to daydream.
He was watching HanNong Produce Co.
Day 2 of Quest: Harvest the Slow Gain
The system's glowing Quest Log hovered in the air beside his screen.
⚡ Quest – Harvest the Slow Gain ⚡
Progress: Day 2 / 5
Hold HanNong for minimum 5 days.
Bonus reward for holding 7+ days with >10% gain.
Reward: +60 XP (min) | Bonus: +1 Stat Point
HanNong's stock price was quiet today, moving like a careful plow.
₩2,475… ₩2,485… ₩2,490…
Joon didn't flinch. The old him would have checked his phone every five minutes, hunting for spikes. Now, he watched for patterns.
He opened his Trade Journal.
HanNong is calm. Price floating with low volume. Sentiment still quiet. But agri-sector news confirms good harvest season in southern provinces. Good signs.
Emotionally: I'm bored. But that's okay. Good trades are boring.
System Notification: +3 XP (Journal Entry – Passive II Bonus)
XP: 381 → 384 / 600
Joon sipped his tea, leaned back against the stone wall, and watched a group of farmers pass by on their tractors.
And then…
A voice called out from the road.
"Joon-ah!"
He turned.
It was Mr. Baek, owner of the town's small rice mill and one of the most respected men in Seongcheon. In his sixties, with a strong build and a voice that still carried like a temple bell.
"You're the one who made money trading that robot company, right?"
Joon blinked.
"Uh… yes, a little. I study. Still learning."
Mr. Baek chuckled. "Heard about you from Jin-ho. Said you explained charts and something about dip-buying. You help him get a little return."
Joon's heart skipped.
He hadn't realized people were talking.
Mr. Baek walked closer. "I've got some savings. Not much, but enough I'd like to see grow. Nothing too risky. Think you can show me what to look at?"
Joon nodded, slowly. "I can help you understand the basics. But not financial advice. Just analysis."
"That's enough," Baek said with a smile. "That's more than the banks do."
That evening, Joon updated his Status Window, stunned by what he saw.
[Status Window]
Level: 7
XP: 384 / 600
Capital: ₩128,600 + HanNong Produce Co. (100 shares @ ₩2,480)
Market Insight: 10
Negotiation: 2
Stamina: 3
Research: 4
Risk Appetite: 3
Titles:
Beginner Trader
Pattern Seeker
Value Seeker
Contrarian Initiate
Disciplined Analyst
Emotional Cartographer
Local Analyst (NEW)
Skills:
Long-Term Perspective (Passive II)
Momentum Read (Active I)
Reputation: 3 (New: Reputation system unlocked)
Features:
Trade Journal
Weekly Market Forecast
Quest Log
System Notification: New Title Acquired – Local Analyst
You've built a name within your local community as someone who understands the market. Reputation unlocked.
+3 Reputation
Reputation System Unlocked
System Notification: Feature Unlocked – Reputation
Reputation tracks your social credibility and influence. Higher reputation unlocks mentorship opportunities, networking quests, and long-term influence mechanics.
Joon leaned back.
"Reputation," he whispered.
This wasn't just numbers on a screen anymore. He was becoming someone the village trusted. People were starting to ask him for help—not as a fluke, not as a game, but because he knew something useful.
That night, he journaled again.
Mr. Baek asked for help. He didn't want stock tips—he wanted understanding. That's what I want to build. Help people think for themselves.
System Notification: +3 XP (Journal Entry – Passive II Bonus)
XP: 384 → 387 / 600
He looked over at the small calendar on his desk. Day 3 of holding HanNong was about to begin.
If the system kept evolving like this… so would he.
Not just a better trader.
A better person.