Editor: Anuvrat
“Ugh, I don’t wanna go.”
Yoon Seok gloomily mumbled.
As soon as he woke up, the tab of his friend calling him was glaring at him through his smartphone screen.
Even though they were of the same age, both can’t be considered friends.
It was better to assume that they were enemies.
This friend of his was the one who’s been harassing Yoon Seok since childhood.
I’ll just pretend I didn’t see because I was sleeping, but…
-Kang Hyung-woo: I know you are not sleeping. Come out in 30 mins or else, you know, right?
Looking at the text, Yoon Seok hurriedly put on his clothes and ran outside to catch a taxi.
Checking the time it was 1:30 A.M, a long time has passed since the last train stopped running.
Yoon Seok sighed.
He couldn’t help but go, no, he must go. ‘Else, the cost of living would be hell…’
And if that happens, he could put his family into a more difficult position.
Yoon left for Gangnam, as soon as he caught a taxi.
The address Kang Hyung-woo texted was a hotspot in Gangnam, the M club. The club is famous for its hardcore frolics, so a lot of young men and women were waiting in the long line.
“Ha!”
Instantly, all eyes were fixed onto him when Yoon-Seok proceeded to stand in the line. There were quite a few whose mocking laughter was mixed in between the intense music.
“Who is that? Is it his first time?”
“He is definitely fat, wearing something like that.”
“Leave him be, don’t waste your time.”
Yoon Seok deafened every sound in his surroundings and pretended to focus on the ground.
Do they think I can’t hear them?
This place has a rule of their own, one can’t just waltz around wearing an old pair of jeans with a padding coat.
The line gradually shrank, and soon it was Yoon Seok’s turn.
“I’m sorry, but you can’t go in because your outfit is against our dress code.”
“My friend is waiting for me.”
The bouncer couldn’t help but burst out in laughter.
M Club was an elite club exclusively for elite people in Gangnam. Those who can afford to eat and sleep in Gangnam were the ones who were allowed.
Is he one of those guys trying to get inside by any means possible?
“Then you’ll have to set up a meeting outside.”
Amid the banter, Yoon Seok looked at his watch.
He had less than five minutes before Kang Hyung-woo noticed his absence. And with his nature, Yoon Seok didn’t think he would let it go so easily.
‘I’m sure he’s going to be mad at me, saying it was my fault.’
Still, he tried to negotiate with the bouncer.
Desperation was ticking on his nerves.
The manager, who just at the time came out to get some fresh air, saw Yoon Seok.
“Hey, you! Let him in!”
The manager said to the bouncer.
“Huh? But why…?”
“His friend is Kang Hyung-woo.”
“Ka-Kang Hyung-woo? The second-generation chaebol heir?”
“Yes, so let him in.”
The man looked at the shabby Yoon Seok with an unbelievable look.
In any conceivable way, he couldn’t link the shabby man in front of him with Kang Hyung-woo.
But with the command by his manager, he saw no reason to stop Yoon Seok.
“He’s in room 17, go ahead.”
The club manager and Yoon Seok briefly shook hands before letting him enter the club.
A group of female students who were standing behind him listened to the full conversation. And the whole situation left their mouth hanging.
“Wow, awesome! He said he’s friends with Kang Hyung-woo! Good for him.”
“Doesn’t it mean he is a chaebol?”
“Look at his clothes, can’t you see? Of course, he is.”
“You crazy bitch, don’t you know? There are a lot of rich people who prefer not to dress up”
But those bunch of girls probably didn’t know that Yoon Seok was neither a chaebol nor a friend of Kang Hyung-woo.
For Hyung Woo, Yoon Seok was nothing more than a plaything
* * *
“Ah, you came?”
As soon as he opened the door, his view was covered with shattered glass laying on the floor. His nose was filled with a strong smell of alcohol mixed with perfume.
Looking across the room, it was empty except for Kang Hyung-woo, everyone must have been sent out
Kang Hyung-woo muttered looking at him.
“You’re late!”
No, he wasn’t late.
Even though he had a slight struggle at the entrance, it was still 1:59 A.M.
Yoon Seok who narrowly missed the deadline showed up
But…
Kang Hyung-woo looked into the watch on his wrist.
It was a luxury brand whose name was on everyone’s lips. Kang took off his watch and put it on the table.
“Do you know my watch is five minutes ahead? Do you or do you not?”
Kang Hyung-woo wobbly approached Yoon Seok.
He aggressively raised his hand towards Yoon Seok.
“S-sorry… But right now I can’t let you out of this room.”
Yoon Seok shrank reflexively.
Looking at him, Hyung-woo paused for a while, clenched his fist, and retreated.
“Geez! Fuck! What’s the point of hitting you? Here, take the keys. It’s in the parking lot, pay the valet and take me out of here.”
“Yes.”
Kang Hyung-woo was talking very calmly, and Yoon Seok, who has been with him for a long time knew how he does things.
‘Something good must have happened to him.’
Maybe that’s why he wasn’t beaten up even though he was late.
But one more mistake, it will be something totally different.
Though he is in a good mood right now, it doesn’t take much to make him lose his temper and start talking with his fist.
Yoon Seok left the club after receiving the key and he parked the car at the entrance before bringing Hyung-woo out.
“Where should we head? Your home?”
“No, I’m going to sleep in a hotel tonight. And right now I’m having a headache; so shut up and go.”
“Okay.”
Yoon Seok drove the car carefully
Thanks to his veteran driving skills, Kang Hyung-woo soon fell asleep in the back seat.
The car reached its destination, the JC Hotel in Jongno-gu.
The hotel was one of the affiliates of JC Group, whose chairman was Kang’s father.
“Hyung-woo, we’re here. Get up.”
“…you idiot. Why do you live like this? Ugh!!”
“Hey, I’ll help you. Get up.”
Kang Hyung-woo slapped Yoon Seok’s hand away as if he did get dirty.
Hyung Woo stumbled on his way to the hotel. But, Yoon Seok kept his distance and followed him to check if he went inside his room in one piece.
But all the way, Hyung Woo repeated the same thing over and over again.
“This loser. You know that, right? You’re a loser! You dirty little loser….”
Even if, Hyung-woo didn’t chant the same line over and over again, Yoon Seok already knew
He knew that he was a loser.
He looked at the sky, why is it shining so brightly?
Suddenly he clenched his fist, so hard that it was shaking.
***
“Ha….”
Leaving the hotel, Yoon Seok lit a cigarette.
It was one of those bad things he learned in the military.
He sat on a bench of a now deserted park.
Time waits for no one. Yoon Seok planned to do odd jobs until he had his own house car.
But looking at him now, he can’t stop thinking about how bad he was at everything.
“Should I have bet my life on the army carrier ?”
His colleagues may have hated their time in the army, but Yoon Seok, what he felt was different. Ironically, for him, it was the only time when he felt alive, free for the first time in a very long time.
At least, there wasn’t any Kang Hyung-woo.
“Ha, it would have been a mess.”
Yoon Seok has known Kang Hyung-woo ever since they were in elementary school. He met this so-called friend of his in middle school and went through the same high school too.
Luck never favored him and they were classmates for seven years.
If Yoon Seok’s father wasn’t a subcontractor for JC Motor, life would have made things different for them. He and Kang Hyung-woo might have been actual friends.
“I shouldn’t have fought back then….”
A servant had to follow his master faithfully.
This sentence described it all, what their relationship was like. But he and Hyung Woo weren’t like that in the beginning.
When they just entered elementary school they were quite good friends.
They were really good friends, laughing, playing, and always had things to tell each other.
If Yoon Seok thinks about it, he and Hyung Woo had a massive fight at the school, so massive that their parents were called to immediately.
And destiny played its trick.
The absolute link between the parents.
Yoon Seok’s father had to beg until his knees were worn out, but Kang Hyung-woo’s father smiled and forgave it all. From the outside, it seemed that things were going smoothly.
But it wasn’t.
There was no resentment between both parents, but not for Kang Hyung-woo. From that point forth, Kang Hyung-woo persistently started to harass him.
Although he was too young to remember, the young Yoon Seok thought he had to endure it, recalling how his father had to kneel just for a second chance.
Enduring, that young Yoon Seok became an adult but also became a servant of Kang Hyung Woo.
Now he did whatever he was asked for, a so-called punching bag. Nothing has changed ever since.
“No, maybe something has changed!” In middle school, he was one of those who sought knowledge and was filled with facts
But now he became lethargic, timid, no will to do anything, and was left with nothing.
Kang Hyung-woo’s abusive remarks; which he had to listen to every day, be it an insult to his character or any other, were effective. Little by little Yoon Seok lost all of his confidence.
He was filled with negativity and no matter what he does: he will be nothing but a failure. So, it wasn’t like Kang Hyung-woo was wrong when he said Yoon Seok was a loser.
He has no desire to win.
But it wasn’t always the same for him.
‘Commitment is to overcome the adversity of reality and win’,.
***
「You have been chosen by The Tower of Heaven.」
Did he fall asleep while sitting on the bench?
A sky-scraping tower suddenly appeared in front of Yoon Seok.
All his five senses were numb as if he was fully drowned in water. But indefinity he could hear someone non-stop whispering in his ear.
You need to open the door and enter the tower.
And, Yoon Seok did exactly what he was told.
「Please select a trial.」
Beyond the door were four statues standing upright in the spacious room. Yoon Seok carefully read the letters carved in each statue.
[Experience], [Exploration], [Mission], [Duel]
Each statue emitted a unique brilliant light.
But there was something particularly dazzling among the clusters of light. It’s like they were pulling a soul? Yoon Seok approached the “duel statue” and touched the carved letters like a possessed person.
Until then, he had no idea.
What was his special talent? And how things would unfold for him.
「Get ready. The duel will begin soon.」
And so, this decision changed his life forever.
***
Editor: Anuvrat
“Ugh, I don’t wanna go.”
Yoon Seok gloomily mumbled.
As soon as he woke up, the tab of his friend calling him was glaring at him through his smartphone screen.
Even though they were of the same age, both can’t be considered friends.
It was better to assume that they were enemies.
This friend of his was the one who’s been harassing Yoon Seok since childhood.
I’ll just pretend I didn’t see because I was sleeping, but…
-Kang Hyung-woo: I know you are not sleeping. Come out in 30 mins or else, you know, right?
Looking at the text, Yoon Seok hurriedly put on his clothes and ran outside to catch a taxi.
Checking the time it was 1:30 A.M, a long time has passed since the last train stopped running.
Yoon Seok sighed.
He couldn’t help but go, no, he must go. ‘Else, the cost of living would be hell…’
And if that happens, he could put his family into a more difficult position.
Yoon left for Gangnam, as soon as he caught a taxi.
The address Kang Hyung-woo texted was a hotspot in Gangnam, the M club. The club is famous for its hardcore frolics, so a lot of young men and women were waiting in the long line.
“Ha!”
Instantly, all eyes were fixed onto him when Yoon-Seok proceeded to stand in the line. There were quite a few whose mocking laughter was mixed in between the intense music.
“Who is that? Is it his first time?”
“He is definitely fat, wearing something like that.”
“Leave him be, don’t waste your time.”
Yoon Seok deafened every sound in his surroundings and pretended to focus on the ground.
Do they think I can’t hear them?
This place has a rule of their own, one can’t just waltz around wearing an old pair of jeans with a padding coat.
The line gradually shrank, and soon it was Yoon Seok’s turn.
“I’m sorry, but you can’t go in because your outfit is against our dress code.”
“My friend is waiting for me.”
The bouncer couldn’t help but burst out in laughter.
M Club was an elite club exclusively for elite people in Gangnam. Those who can afford to eat and sleep in Gangnam were the ones who were allowed.
Is he one of those guys trying to get inside by any means possible?
“Then you’ll have to set up a meeting outside.”
Amid the banter, Yoon Seok looked at his watch.
He had less than five minutes before Kang Hyung-woo noticed his absence. And with his nature, Yoon Seok didn’t think he would let it go so easily.
‘I’m sure he’s going to be mad at me, saying it was my fault.’
Still, he tried to negotiate with the bouncer.
Desperation was ticking on his nerves.
The manager, who just at the time came out to get some fresh air, saw Yoon Seok.
“Hey, you! Let him in!”
The manager said to the bouncer.
“Huh? But why…?”
“His friend is Kang Hyung-woo.”
“Ka-Kang Hyung-woo? The second-generation chaebol heir?”
“Yes, so let him in.”
The man looked at the shabby Yoon Seok with an unbelievable look.
In any conceivable way, he couldn’t link the shabby man in front of him with Kang Hyung-woo.
But with the command by his manager, he saw no reason to stop Yoon Seok.
“He’s in room 17, go ahead.”
The club manager and Yoon Seok briefly shook hands before letting him enter the club.
A group of female students who were standing behind him listened to the full conversation. And the whole situation left their mouth hanging.
“Wow, awesome! He said he’s friends with Kang Hyung-woo! Good for him.”
“Doesn’t it mean he is a chaebol?”
“Look at his clothes, can’t you see? Of course, he is.”
“You crazy bitch, don’t you know? There are a lot of rich people who prefer not to dress up”
But those bunch of girls probably didn’t know that Yoon Seok was neither a chaebol nor a friend of Kang Hyung-woo.
For Hyung Woo, Yoon Seok was nothing more than a plaything
* * *
“Ah, you came?”
As soon as he opened the door, his view was covered with shattered glass laying on the floor. His nose was filled with a strong smell of alcohol mixed with perfume.
Looking across the room, it was empty except for Kang Hyung-woo, everyone must have been sent out
Kang Hyung-woo muttered looking at him.
“You’re late!”
No, he wasn’t late.
Even though he had a slight struggle at the entrance, it was still 1:59 A.M.
Yoon Seok who narrowly missed the deadline showed up
But…
Kang Hyung-woo looked into the watch on his wrist.
It was a luxury brand whose name was on everyone’s lips. Kang took off his watch and put it on the table.
“Do you know my watch is five minutes ahead? Do you or do you not?”
Kang Hyung-woo wobbly approached Yoon Seok.
He aggressively raised his hand towards Yoon Seok.
“S-sorry… But right now I can’t let you out of this room.”
Yoon Seok shrank reflexively.
Looking at him, Hyung-woo paused for a while, clenched his fist, and retreated.
“Geez! Fuck! What’s the point of hitting you? Here, take the keys. It’s in the parking lot, pay the valet and take me out of here.”
“Yes.”
Kang Hyung-woo was talking very calmly, and Yoon Seok, who has been with him for a long time knew how he does things.
‘Something good must have happened to him.’
Maybe that’s why he wasn’t beaten up even though he was late.
But one more mistake, it will be something totally different.
Though he is in a good mood right now, it doesn’t take much to make him lose his temper and start talking with his fist.
Yoon Seok left the club after receiving the key and he parked the car at the entrance before bringing Hyung-woo out.
“Where should we head? Your home?”
“No, I’m going to sleep in a hotel tonight. And right now I’m having a headache; so shut up and go.”
“Okay.”
Yoon Seok drove the car carefully
Thanks to his veteran driving skills, Kang Hyung-woo soon fell asleep in the back seat.
The car reached its destination, the JC Hotel in Jongno-gu.
The hotel was one of the affiliates of JC Group, whose chairman was Kang’s father.
“Hyung-woo, we’re here. Get up.”
“…you idiot. Why do you live like this? Ugh!!”
“Hey, I’ll help you. Get up.”
Kang Hyung-woo slapped Yoon Seok’s hand away as if he did get dirty.
Hyung Woo stumbled on his way to the hotel. But, Yoon Seok kept his distance and followed him to check if he went inside his room in one piece.
But all the way, Hyung Woo repeated the same thing over and over again.
“This loser. You know that, right? You’re a loser! You dirty little loser….”
Even if, Hyung-woo didn’t chant the same line over and over again, Yoon Seok already knew
He knew that he was a loser.
He looked at the sky, why is it shining so brightly?
Suddenly he clenched his fist, so hard that it was shaking.
***
“Ha….”
Leaving the hotel, Yoon Seok lit a cigarette.
It was one of those bad things he learned in the military.
He sat on a bench of a now deserted park.
Time waits for no one. Yoon Seok planned to do odd jobs until he had his own house car.
But looking at him now, he can’t stop thinking about how bad he was at everything.
“Should I have bet my life on the army carrier ?”
His colleagues may have hated their time in the army, but Yoon Seok, what he felt was different. Ironically, for him, it was the only time when he felt alive, free for the first time in a very long time.
At least, there wasn’t any Kang Hyung-woo.
“Ha, it would have been a mess.”
Yoon Seok has known Kang Hyung-woo ever since they were in elementary school. He met this so-called friend of his in middle school and went through the same high school too.
Luck never favored him and they were classmates for seven years.
If Yoon Seok’s father wasn’t a subcontractor for JC Motor, life would have made things different for them. He and Kang Hyung-woo might have been actual friends.
“I shouldn’t have fought back then….”
A servant had to follow his master faithfully.
This sentence described it all, what their relationship was like. But he and Hyung Woo weren’t like that in the beginning.
When they just entered elementary school they were quite good friends.
They were really good friends, laughing, playing, and always had things to tell each other.
If Yoon Seok thinks about it, he and Hyung Woo had a massive fight at the school, so massive that their parents were called to immediately.
And destiny played its trick.
The absolute link between the parents.
Yoon Seok’s father had to beg until his knees were worn out, but Kang Hyung-woo’s father smiled and forgave it all. From the outside, it seemed that things were going smoothly.
But it wasn’t.
There was no resentment between both parents, but not for Kang Hyung-woo. From that point forth, Kang Hyung-woo persistently started to harass him.
Although he was too young to remember, the young Yoon Seok thought he had to endure it, recalling how his father had to kneel just for a second chance.
Enduring, that young Yoon Seok became an adult but also became a servant of Kang Hyung Woo.
Now he did whatever he was asked for, a so-called punching bag. Nothing has changed ever since.
“No, maybe something has changed!” In middle school, he was one of those who sought knowledge and was filled with facts
But now he became lethargic, timid, no will to do anything, and was left with nothing.
Kang Hyung-woo’s abusive remarks; which he had to listen to every day, be it an insult to his character or any other, were effective. Little by little Yoon Seok lost all of his confidence.
He was filled with negativity and no matter what he does: he will be nothing but a failure. So, it wasn’t like Kang Hyung-woo was wrong when he said Yoon Seok was a loser.
He has no desire to win.
But it wasn’t always the same for him.
‘Commitment is to overcome the adversity of reality and win’,.
***
「You have been chosen by The Tower of Heaven.」
Did he fall asleep while sitting on the bench?
A sky-scraping tower suddenly appeared in front of Yoon Seok.
All his five senses were numb as if he was fully drowned in water. But indefinity he could hear someone non-stop whispering in his ear.
You need to open the door and enter the tower.
And, Yoon Seok did exactly what he was told.
「Please select a trial.」
Beyond the door were four statues standing upright in the spacious room. Yoon Seok carefully read the letters carved in each statue.
[Experience], [Exploration], [Mission], [Duel]
Each statue emitted a unique brilliant light.
But there was something particularly dazzling among the clusters of light. It’s like they were pulling a soul? Yoon Seok approached the “duel statue” and touched the carved letters like a possessed person.
Until then, he had no idea.
What was his special talent? And how things would unfold for him.
「Get ready. The duel will begin soon.」
And so, this decision changed his life forever.
***
