Jihoon sat alone on the edge of his worn-out sofa, his phone glowing softly in his hands. Outside, Seoul buzzed with life, but inside, the silence wrapped around him like a heavy blanket. Since morning, the CashQuest app had been silent. No missions. No rewards. No chimes or congratulatory messages. Just a blank screen, taunting him.
He stared at the app, thumb hovering over it, unsure whether to tap or throw the phone across the room. His heart beat slow and heavy, like it was waiting for something.
Was that it? Did I break it? Was it a dream? His thoughts churned, the calm after the storm leaving only doubt.
Then, out of nowhere, the screen flickered.
"You are the chosen one, Jihoon."
His chest tightened.
"Raise your level. Complete your missions. Only then will you be worthy to discover who I am."
What the hell...? he whispered under his breath.
The screen pulsed like a heartbeat.
"Climb, and you'll find me. Fall, and you'll lose everything."
Jihoon's fingers trembled. This wasn't a normal system. This wasn't even a game. It was like something—or someone—was behind it, watching, guiding, testing.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
His heart leapt. Now what?
"Jihoon! You home?"
He relaxed slightly. Mina.
He opened the door. There she was, holding two cups of warm tteokbokki in a plastic bag.
"You forgot to eat again, didn't you?" she asked with a smile that quickly faded when she saw his pale face.
Mina was Jihoon's childhood friend. The girl who used to race him to the swings in elementary school. The one who stayed up with him during exam nights. The one person who still checked in without needing a reason.
"You okay? You look like you saw a ghost."
He hesitated. Should he tell her?
"I'm fine. Just... weird stuff happening," he said vaguely.
They sat down, eating in silence. Mina watched him closely.
"You've been off lately. Distant. Ever since you got that new phone..."
Jihoon chuckled nervously. "It's nothing serious. Just an app."
"An app? Like TikTok? You acting like you're in a spy movie, not scrolling memes."
He gave a weak smile. If only it were that simple.
After Mina left, Jihoon collapsed into his chair again. His stomach was full but his mind was starving for answers.
The phone buzzed.
A new notification lit up:
Mission: Give without expecting anything in return. Reward: ₩10,000.
Again with the cryptic kindness quests? he thought.
Still, without questioning further, Jihoon grabbed the cash he'd stashed in his drawer. The moment he stepped outside, he noticed the old man with the bent back and weathered eyes sitting beside the convenience store, holding an empty paper cup.
He knelt down and placed the 10,000 won note inside.
The old man looked at him, stunned. "Why... why are you helping me?"
Jihoon smiled faintly. "Just felt like the right thing to do."
The moment he turned away, his phone buzzed again.
Mission Complete.
Reward: ₩650,000 credited to your account.
Jihoon blinked. "What?!"
He checked his balance. It was real. 650,000 won. Just for giving away 10,000?
Then another message appeared:
"That was only the beginning. You made a choice. Soon, you'll face a price."
What price? Jihoon thought. What the hell is this system really planning?
As he stood under the city lights, a breeze brushed past him, but it wasn't cold. It felt like something unseen whispering by.
He looked at the phone one last time before heading home.
This wasn't just a money game. This was a test.
And Jihoon had just taken his first real step as the chosen one.