The soft hum of early morning settled over Seongcheon. The rice fields stretched beyond the horizon, waving gently in the breeze like a sea of green and gold. Joon sat at the edge of his small porch, his laptop open but his eyes fixed on the distant hills. Trading was no longer just numbers on a screen — it was becoming part of his rhythm, his life.
His mind flicked back to the last few days. The way Mr. Baek had approached him, the quiet trust in the village, the slow but steady progress with HanNong Produce Co. Holding a stock through calm waters wasn't exciting — but it was necessary. He'd learned that patience was its own kind of strength.
The system window shimmered softly beside him.
⚡ Quest Update – Harvest the Slow Gain ⚡
Progress: Day 3 / 5
Hold HanNong for minimum 5 days. Bonus reward for holding 7+ days with >10% gain.
Reward: +60 XP (min) | Bonus: +1 Stat Point
Joon opened his Trade Journal.
Day 3 update: HanNong's price steady at ₩2,495 with low volume. Sector news still positive, with government subsidies for sustainable agriculture expected to increase.
Emotionally: The urge to check other stocks is strong, but I'm focusing on this. Discipline > impulse.
System Notification: +3 XP (Journal Entry – Passive II Bonus)
XP: 387 → 390 / 600
The village was waking up now — distant chatter, the creak of wooden carts, the calls of early workers in the fields. Joon closed his laptop and grabbed his bike. He needed a break.
As he pedaled toward the village center, he found himself deep in thought. His reputation had grown slightly since Mr. Baek's endorsement. A few villagers had started asking him questions about stocks, sometimes shyly, sometimes with genuine curiosity. It was small, but real.
At the local market, he stopped by Jin-ho's stall, where fresh vegetables were arranged neatly.
"Morning, Joon!" Jin-ho greeted him with a grin. "Heard you're the village market's new financial guru."
Joon laughed. "Hardly that. Just learning."
Jin-ho nodded. "Still, if you ever want to talk more about stocks, you know where to find me."
Joon smiled, feeling the weight of community in those simple words.
Back at home, as afternoon sun painted his room gold, Joon's phone buzzed.
A message from Mr. Baek:
"Let's meet tomorrow. I have some ideas for a small investment plan."
Joon felt a surge of warmth — this was trust, growing steadily like the crops outside.
Later that evening, he checked the system.
HanNong's stock price ticked up to ₩2,530.
A modest increase, but progress nonetheless.
System Notification: +10 XP (HanNong price increase +1.4%)
XP: 390 → 400 / 600
Joon opened the Status Window.
[Status Window]
Level: 7XP: 400 / 600
Capital: ₩128,600 + HanNong Produce Co. (100 shares @ ₩2,530)
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
Skills:
Long-Term Perspective (Passive II)
Momentum Read (Active I)
Reputation: 4 (+1)
The quiet growth of his portfolio mirrored the quiet growth of his reputation and understanding. Each small step was part of a larger journey — and for the first time, the future felt a little less uncertain.
He opened his Trade Journal once more, writing the final note for the day:
Discipline feels like the slowest growth. But it's the one that lasts.
A soft chime rang through the room.
System Notification: Reflection Bonus +5 XP
XP: 400 → 405 / 600
Joon closed his laptop, the horizon glowing softly outside his window.
Tomorrow, the market awaited. And so did new challenges.