Thursday morning came with a weird mix of excitement and nerves. Today was the day the student council would vote on new members, and I actually cared about the outcome. A month ago, I wouldn't have even known when student council elections were happening.
"DAILY QUEST AVAILABLE"
"QUEST: LEADERSHIP PREPARATION" "DESCRIPTION: PREPARE FOR STUDENT COUNCIL VOTE AND DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP QUALITIES" "REWARD: +1 CHARISMA, +1 WISDOM, 20 SYSTEM POINTS" "TIME LIMIT: 8 HOURS"
"ACCEPT? YES/NO"
I accepted while doing my morning push-ups. My routine was becoming automatic now, which felt good. Structure was something I'd never had before, but it was actually making me feel more free, not less.
At breakfast, my parents could tell I was thinking about something.
"Big day today?" Dad asked, looking up from his newspaper.
"Yeah. The student council is voting on new members today."
"That's wonderful," Mom said, bringing me eggs and toast. "I'm so proud that you're getting involved in school activities."
"Thanks. I'm nervous though. What if they don't want me?"
"Then that's their loss," Dad said firmly. "But from what I've seen, you've become someone who contributes wherever you go. They'd be lucky to have you."
"RELATIONSHIP PROGRESS: PARK JINSOO (FATHER) - DEEP TRUST"
"DAILY QUEST COMPLETED"
"REWARD: +1 CHARISMA, +1 WISDOM, 20 SYSTEM POINTS"
"CURRENT SYSTEM POINTS: 460"
At school, I tried to focus on my classes, but my mind kept drifting to the afternoon meeting. During lunch, Sujin noticed I was distracted.
"Are you okay?" she asked, sitting down with her tray.
"Just thinking about the student council thing."
"You'll be fine. You're good at bringing people together."
"What if I'm not ready for that kind of responsibility?"
"Jinhyuk," she said, giving me a serious look. "A month ago, you helped me feel comfortable joining the study group. You've been organizing our sessions, helping everyone understand difficult concepts, and making sure nobody gets left behind. That's leadership."
"I guess I never thought about it that way."
"Plus, you've changed so much. You're confident now, but not arrogant. You actually listen to people. Those are rare qualities."
"WISDOM +1"
"CURRENT WISDOM: 7/100"
After school, I went to the student council meeting room. There were about twelve current members present, plus three other students who were also hoping to join.
"Welcome, everyone," said Kim Taejoon, the president. "Today we're voting on new members. Each candidate will have five minutes to present their ideas, then we'll discuss and vote."
I was the third person to present. The first two candidates talked about organizing more school events and improving the cafeteria food. Good ideas, but pretty standard stuff.
When it was my turn, I stood up and took a deep breath.
"Hi everyone. I'm Kim Jinhyuk from Class 2-A. I know some of you might be surprised to see me here, since I wasn't exactly a model student before. But that's actually why I think I can help."
I paused, looking around the room. Everyone was listening.
"I've learned that there are a lot of students like me who want to do better but don't know how. I want to create programs that help struggling students find their potential. Not just tutoring, but mentoring. Helping them build confidence and study skills."
"That's interesting," said Minseo, the junior I'd talked to before. "Can you be more specific?"
"Sure. I'd like to start with a peer mentoring program where successful students are paired with students who are struggling. Not just academically, but with organization, time management, and goal setting."
"How would that work?" asked another member.
"We could start small. Maybe ten pairs. The mentors would meet with their mentees once a week, help them organize their study schedules, and be available for questions. We could track their progress and expand the program if it works."
"What makes you think this would be effective?" Taejoon asked.
"Because I've lived both sides of it. I know what it's like to be the student who's falling behind and doesn't know how to catch up. And I've recently experienced what it's like to have people believe in you and help you succeed."
"CHARISMA +1"
"CURRENT CHARISMA: 30/100"
"QUEST PROGRESS: STUDENT LEADER (60% COMPLETE)"
The room was quiet for a moment. Then Yerin spoke up.
"I think that's exactly the kind of program our school needs. Jinhyuk has shown incredible growth in just a few weeks, and he's been helping other students along the way."
"I agree," said another member. "He's proven he can turn his own life around. That's powerful."
After all the presentations, the current members discussed each candidate while we waited outside. It felt like hours, but it was probably only twenty minutes.
Finally, Taejoon called us back in.
"We've made our decision. We're accepting two new members this semester." He paused, looking at each of us. "Kim Jinhyuk and Park Somin."
I felt a huge rush of relief and excitement. I was actually going to be on the student council!
"Congratulations," Minseo said, shaking my hand. "We're excited to work with you."
"Thank you. I won't let you down."
"Your first official meeting is next Tuesday. We'll be discussing the budget for spring activities, and we'd like you to present a detailed proposal for your mentoring program."
"I'll have it ready."
"QUEST PROGRESS: STUDENT LEADER (80% COMPLETE)"
"CHARISMA +2"
"CURRENT CHARISMA: 32/100"
Walking home, I felt like I was floating. Student council member. Me. The kid who used to skip classes and get in fights was now going to help make decisions for the whole school.
"SYSTEM NOTIFICATION"
"MILESTONE ACHIEVEMENT: SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION"
"SPECIAL REWARD: INFLUENCE SKILL UNLOCKED"
"SKILL ACQUIRED: INFLUENCE (LEVEL 1)"
"DESCRIPTION: ABILITY TO PERSUADE AND INSPIRE OTHERS"
When I got home, my parents were waiting for me with big smiles.
"So?" Mom asked. "How did it go?"
"I got in!"
"That's wonderful!" Dad said, getting up to hug me. "I'm so proud of you."
"Thanks. Now I have to actually do the work."
"You will," Mom said. "You've already shown you can do anything you put your mind to."
"RELATIONSHIP PROGRESS: PARK YEONHEE (MOTHER) - UNSHAKEABLE BOND"
That evening, I worked on my proposal for the mentoring program. I wanted to make it as detailed and professional as possible. I researched similar programs at other schools, calculated potential costs, and outlined a timeline for implementation.
"SKILL LEVEL UP: PLANNING AND ORGANIZATION (LEVEL 2)"
"INTELLIGENCE +1"
"CURRENT INTELLIGENCE: 60/100"
Sixty intelligence points! I'd reached the threshold of being actually smart, not just average. It felt incredible.
Friday at school, word had already spread about the new student council members. People were congratulating me in the hallways.
"Jinhyuk!" Sungjin called out during lunch. "I heard you made student council!"
"Yeah, I can't believe it either."
"That's awesome, man. You deserve it."
Sujin smiled proudly. "I told you they'd choose you."
"Now I have to prove I belong there."
"You will," Yerin said, joining our table. "Your presentation was really impressive. The current members were talking about how fresh your perspective is."
"Thanks. I'm going to need all the help I can get."
"Actually," Yerin said, looking thoughtful, "I might have some ideas for your mentoring program. I've been thinking about it since the meeting."
"Really? That would be great."
"What if we also included study skills workshops? Like, teaching students how to take notes effectively, how to prepare for tests, how to manage their time?"
"That's perfect. It would give the mentors more tools to help their mentees."
"WISDOM +1"
"CURRENT WISDOM: 8/100"
"SKILL LEVEL UP: COLLABORATIVE PLANNING (LEVEL 1)"
The weekend was busy. I spent Saturday morning working on my proposal, then met with the study group in the afternoon. Our group had grown to include about fifteen students now, and I found myself naturally coordinating everything.
"Okay, everyone," I said, "let's divide into subject groups. Math and science over here, literature and history over there, and English in the middle."
"Should we rotate every hour like usual?" asked Minji.
"Let's try ninety minutes today. That'll give us more time to really dig into the difficult concepts."
"Good idea," said Hyerim. "I need extra time for chemistry."
As the session went on, I moved between groups, helping where I could and making sure everyone was engaged. It was exhausting but fulfilling.
"You're really good at this," said Donghyun, a quiet kid who'd started coming to our sessions recently. "You explain things better than most teachers."
"Thanks. I just remember what it was like when I didn't understand something."
"That's what makes you good at it. You don't make people feel stupid for not getting it right away."
"SKILL LEVEL UP: TEACHING ABILITY (LEVEL 3)"
"CHARISMA +1"
"CURRENT CHARISMA: 33/100"
Sunday, I finalized my proposal and practiced presenting it. I wanted to be ready for Tuesday's meeting.
"NEW QUEST AVAILABLE"
"QUEST: PROVE YOUR WORTH" "DESCRIPTION: SUCCESSFULLY PRESENT MENTORING PROGRAM PROPOSAL AND GET APPROVAL" "REWARD: +3 CHARISMA, +2 WISDOM, PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SKILL, 100 SYSTEM POINTS" "TIME LIMIT: 3 DAYS"
"ACCEPT? YES/NO"
I accepted the quest. It felt like everything was building toward this moment.
Monday at school, I was focused but calm. During lunch, I ran my presentation by the study group.
"The program would start with ten mentor-mentee pairs," I explained. "Mentors would be students with strong academic records and good interpersonal skills. Mentees would be students who are struggling academically but show potential for improvement."
"How would you match them?" asked Sujin.
"Based on personality compatibility, academic needs, and schedule availability. We'd also consider shared interests when possible."
"What about training for the mentors?" asked Yerin.
"Great question. We'd have a workshop covering basic tutoring techniques, communication skills, and how to motivate someone who's struggling."
"This is really well thought out," said Minhyuk. "I think the council will love it."
"I hope so. I really want to help students who are in the same situation I was in."
"CONFIDENCE +1"
"CURRENT CHARISMA: 34/100"
Tuesday afternoon, I arrived at the student council meeting fifteen minutes early. I wanted to set up my presentation materials and calm my nerves.
"Ready for this?" asked Taejoon as other members filed in.
"As ready as I'll ever be."
"Good. We're excited to hear what you've prepared."
When it was time for my presentation, I stood up and looked around the room. These were the student leaders of our school, and they were giving me their attention.
"Thank you for this opportunity," I began. "I want to present a comprehensive peer mentoring program that I believe can make a real difference in our school."
I explained the concept, the implementation plan, the budget requirements, and the expected outcomes. I had prepared for potential questions and objections.
"The total cost for the first semester would be approximately 200,000 won," I concluded. "This covers training materials, progress tracking sheets, and a small celebration event at the end of the program."
"That's very reasonable," said the treasurer. "How would you measure success?"
"We'd track mentee grades, attendance, and self-reported confidence levels. We'd also get feedback from both mentors and mentees about the program's effectiveness."
"What if a mentoring pair isn't working out?" asked Minseo.
"We'd have a process for reassignment. The goal is to help students succeed, not to force relationships that aren't beneficial."
"SKILL LEVEL UP: INFLUENCE (LEVEL 2)"
"CHARISMA +1"
"CURRENT CHARISMA: 35/100"
The questions continued for about ten minutes. I answered each one confidently, drawing on my research and personal experience.
"This is impressive work," Taejoon said finally. "Let's take a vote. All in favor of approving Jinhyuk's mentoring program?"
Every hand in the room went up.
"Unanimous approval," Taejoon announced. "Congratulations, Jinhyuk. You're authorized to begin recruiting mentors and organizing the program."
"QUEST COMPLETED: PROVE YOUR WORTH"
"REWARD: +3 CHARISMA, +2 WISDOM, PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SKILL, 100 SYSTEM POINTS"
"CURRENT SYSTEM POINTS: 560"
"SKILL ACQUIRED: PROGRAM MANAGEMENT (LEVEL 1)"
"CHARISMA +3"
"WISDOM +2"
"CURRENT CHARISMA: 38/100"
"CURRENT WISDOM: 10/100"
"QUEST COMPLETED: STUDENT LEADER"
"REWARD: +5 CHARISMA, +3 WISDOM, LEADERSHIP SKILL, 120 SYSTEM POINTS"
"CURRENT SYSTEM POINTS: 680"
"SKILL ACQUIRED: LEADERSHIP (LEVEL 1)"
"CHARISMA +5"
"WISDOM +3"
"CURRENT CHARISMA: 43/100"
"CURRENT WISDOM: 13/100"
I was getting a flood of notifications, but I tried to stay focused on the meeting.
"When do you want to launch the program?" asked Minseo.
"I'd like to start recruiting mentors next week, begin training the following week, and launch the program the week after that."
"That's ambitious but doable. What support do you need from us?"
"Help spreading the word about mentor recruitment, and maybe some experienced council members to help with the training workshop."
"I can help with that," said Yerin. "I have experience with peer tutoring."
"I can help too," said another member. "I've been a mentor in community programs."
"Perfect. Thank you all so much."
Walking home, I felt incredible. Not just because my proposal was approved, but because I'd found something I was truly passionate about. Helping other students succeed felt meaningful in a way that nothing else had.
"SYSTEM NOTIFICATION"
"MAJOR MILESTONE: LEADERSHIP RECOGNITION"
"SPECIAL REWARD: INSPIRATION SKILL UNLOCKED"
"SKILL ACQUIRED: INSPIRATION (LEVEL 1)"
"DESCRIPTION: ABILITY TO MOTIVATE OTHERS TO ACHIEVE THEIR POTENTIAL"
At home, my parents were waiting with dinner ready.
"How did the presentation go?" Mom asked.
"They approved it! I'm going to be running a mentoring program for the school."
"That's wonderful," Dad said. "I'm not surprised though. You've shown real leadership qualities lately."
"Thanks. I'm nervous about the responsibility, but I'm excited too."
"You should be proud," Mom said. "You've come so far."
"RELATIONSHIP PROGRESS: FAMILY UNIT - COMPLETE TRUST AND SUPPORT"
That night, I looked at my stats before bed.
"CURRENT STATS:" "STRENGTH: 18/100" "AGILITY: 20/100" "INTELLIGENCE: 60/100" "CHARISMA: 43/100" "LUCK: 5/100" "ANGER CONTROL: 13/100" "WISDOM: 13/100"
"SYSTEM POINTS: 680"
My charisma had more than doubled in just a few weeks. I was developing wisdom faster than I'd expected. Even my intelligence had reached a solid level.
But more importantly, I felt like I had purpose now. The mentoring program wasn't just about helping other students - it was about proving that people could change, that second chances were worth giving.
"NEW QUEST AVAILABLE"
"QUEST: MENTOR THE MENTORS" "DESCRIPTION: SUCCESSFULLY RECRUIT AND TRAIN 10 PEER MENTORS" "REWARD: +5 WISDOM, +3 CHARISMA, ADVANCED LEADERSHIP SKILL, 150 SYSTEM POINTS" "TIME LIMIT: 2 WEEKS"
"ACCEPT? YES/NO"
I accepted without hesitation. This was just the beginning.
Wednesday morning, I started recruiting mentors. I made announcements in homeroom classes, put up flyers around school, and personally approached students I thought would be good candidates.
"Hey, Sungjin," I said after math class. "Are you interested in helping other students with math?"
"Like tutoring?"
"Kind of, but more than that. It's a mentoring program where you'd be paired with a student who's struggling. You'd help them with academics, but also with study skills and confidence building."
"That sounds cool. I've always enjoyed helping people understand math concepts."
"Great. There's an information session on Friday after school."
"I'll be there."
"RELATIONSHIP PROGRESS: PARK SUNGJIN (CLOSE FRIEND → TRUSTED ALLY)"
I approached Minji next.
"I heard about your mentoring program," she said before I could even ask. "I'd love to help."
"Really? That's great!"
"I know what it's like to struggle. I wasn't always good at chemistry. A teacher took extra time with me in middle school, and it changed everything."
"That's exactly the kind of experience we need. You understand how to help someone who's having trouble."
"CHARISMA +1"
"CURRENT CHARISMA: 44/100"
By Friday, I had fifteen students interested in becoming mentors. The information session was held in the library, and I was nervous but excited.
"Thank you all for coming," I began. "This program is about more than just helping students with homework. It's about helping them discover their potential."
I explained the program structure, the time commitment, and the training process. I talked about my own experience going from struggling student to academic success.
"The most important quality for a mentor isn't being the smartest person in the room," I said. "It's being someone who believes in others and has the patience to help them grow."
"How much time would this take?" asked one student.
"About two hours per week. One hour for the actual mentoring session, and some time for preparation and follow-up."
"What if our mentee doesn't want to be helped?" asked another.
"That's a great question. We'll only work with students who volunteer for the program. They have to want to improve."
"SKILL LEVEL UP: LEADERSHIP (LEVEL 2)"
"WISDOM +1"
"CURRENT WISDOM: 14/100"
After the session, twelve students signed up to be mentors. It was more than I'd hoped for.
"This is going to be amazing," said Hyerim, who'd decided to join. "I wish I'd had something like this when I was struggling with academics."
"That's what we're here for," I said. "To be the support system we wish we'd had."
"QUEST PROGRESS: MENTOR THE MENTORS (40% COMPLETE)"
The weekend was spent preparing training materials and working with Yerin and other student council members to plan the mentor training workshop.
"I think we should include role-playing exercises," Yerin suggested. "Let them practice dealing with difficult situations."
"Good idea. What about a session on recognizing when a student needs more help than a peer mentor can provide?"
"Definitely. We need to teach them when to involve teachers or counselors."
"SKILL LEVEL UP: PROGRAM MANAGEMENT (LEVEL 2)"
"WISDOM +1"
"CURRENT WISDOM: 15/100"
Monday morning brought exciting news. The school administration had heard about the mentoring program and wanted to meet with me.
"Mr. Kim wants to see you during lunch," said Mrs. Park, our homeroom teacher. "He's very interested in your program."
Mr. Kim was the vice principal, and he had a reputation for being strict but fair.
"Jinhyuk," he said when I entered his office. "I've been hearing impressive things about you lately."
"Thank you, sir."
"Your mentoring program has caught the attention of the faculty. We think it has real potential to help our struggling students."
"I hope so. I know what it's like to be one of those students."
"That's exactly why I think you're the right person to lead this. You have credibility with students who might not trust adults."
"I want to help them the way people helped me."
"Good. I'm authorizing you to use school resources for this program. You'll have access to classrooms for training and meetings, and we'll provide official recognition for participating mentors."
"That's incredible. Thank you so much."
"Don't thank me yet. Prove that this program works, and then we'll talk about expanding it."
"INFLUENCE +1"
"CURRENT CHARISMA: 45/100"
"QUEST PROGRESS: MENTOR THE MENTORS (60% COMPLETE)"
That afternoon, I held the mentor training workshop. We covered active listening, effective communication, goal setting, and how to build confidence in others.
"Remember," I told the group, "you're not just helping with homework. You're helping someone believe in themselves."
"What if they don't want to do the work?" asked one mentor.
"Then you help them figure out why. Sometimes it's not about being lazy. Sometimes it's about being afraid of failing."
"That's really insightful," said Minji. "I never thought about it that way."
"SKILL LEVEL UP: INSPIRATION (LEVEL 2)"
"CHARISMA +1"
"CURRENT CHARISMA: 46/100"
"WISDOM +1"
"CURRENT WISDOM: 16/100"
The training continued for three hours. We practiced different scenarios, discussed how to handle various challenges, and talked about the importance of building trust with mentees.
"You're all going to do great," I said as we wrapped up. "Remember, the fact that you're here shows you care about helping others. That's the most important thing."
"QUEST COMPLETED: MENTOR THE MENTORS"
"REWARD: +5 WISDOM, +3 CHARISMA, ADVANCED LEADERSHIP SKILL, 150 SYSTEM POINTS"
"CURRENT SYSTEM POINTS: 830"
"SKILL LEVEL UP: LEADERSHIP (LEVEL 3)"
"CHARISMA +3"
"WISDOM +5"
"CURRENT CHARISMA: 49/100"
"CURRENT WISDOM: 21/100"
"SKILL UPGRADE: ADVANCED LEADERSHIP (LEVEL 1)"
"DESCRIPTION: ABILITY TO INSPIRE AND GUIDE LARGE GROUPS TOWARD COMMON GOALS"
Walking home, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction. The mentoring program was becoming real. In just a few weeks, I'd gone from being a struggling student to leading a school-wide initiative.
But more than that, I felt like I was finally using my second chance for something meaningful. Every student who improved through this program would be proof that people could change, that it was never too late to turn your life around.
"SYSTEM NOTIFICATION"
"MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT: ESTABLISHED LEADER"
"SPECIAL REWARD: VISION SKILL UNLOCKED"
"SKILL ACQUIRED: VISION (LEVEL 1)"
"DESCRIPTION: ABILITY TO SEE LONG-TERM POTENTIAL AND PLAN FOR FUTURE SUCCESS"
"NEW QUEST AVAILABLE"
"QUEST: PROGRAM LAUNCH" "DESCRIPTION: SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCH MENTORING PROGRAM AND ACHIEVE POSITIVE RESULTS" "REWARD: +10 WISDOM, +5 CHARISMA, MASTER LEADERSHIP SKILL, 200 SYSTEM POINTS" "TIME LIMIT: 1 MONTH"
"ACCEPT? YES/NO"
I accepted the quest with confidence. Next week, we'd start matching mentors with mentees. The real work was just beginning.
At home, my parents were proud but not surprised.
"You've become such a leader," Mom said over dinner. "I'm amazed at how much you've accomplished."
"Thanks. I just want to help other kids who are struggling like I was."
"That's noble," Dad said. "Using your own experience to help others shows real maturity."
"I think this is just the beginning," I said. "There's so much more I want to do."
"CURRENT STATS:" "STRENGTH: 18/100" "AGILITY: 20/100" "INTELLIGENCE: 60/100" "CHARISMA: 49/100" "LUCK: 5/100" "ANGER CONTROL: 13/100" "WISDOM: 21/100"
"SYSTEM POINTS: 830"
Looking at my stats, I was amazed at the progress. My charisma was approaching 50, and my wisdom was developing rapidly. I was becoming the kind of person who could actually make a difference.
But the numbers were just the beginning. The real measure of success would be whether the mentoring program actually helped students. Whether I could use my second chance to create opportunities for others.
Tomorrow, we'd start the matching process. Soon, I'd find out if all this preparation would pay off.
I fell asleep that night feeling excited about the future. For the first time in either of my lives, I was truly looking forward to what came next.