"Hey, what did you just say?"
The thug's voice was cold and arrogant — the kind that belongs to someone who fears nothing.He glared at me with a sneer.
"I said, you bastards — you little shits!?"
So far, so good.
I rushed forward and leapt into the air for a flying kick.No matter what anyone says, the first strike decides a fight.
But—
Whiff!
My kick sliced through empty air.
Turns out, not everyone can be a legendary fighter like Kim Du-han or Sirasoni.
Then came the pain.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
"Ugh! Agh!"
Fists rained down on me. I was getting beaten to death.
If I had any chance at all — any hill to climb — I might have turned away and pretended not to see that woman's crisis.Because right now, every hit could be my last.
Thud! Thud!
I curled up, covering my head, groaning through gritted teeth.
'Damn it… it hurts… it's terrifying.'
'I should've hit them with a rock…!'
No skill. No power. No chance.
"Get lost, you punk!"
"You fearless Joseon-jing bastard!"
Even while they beat me, the pig-legged thugs swore at me — in Korean, no less.They were enjoying it.
The two women watching me trembled even harder.But something about the way the thugs attacked… felt off.
It was as if they'd made a promise — hitting me everywhere except the head.
'Why… why avoid my head?'
Then I heard one of them whisper: "Hurry up. We're out of time."
'No time? What does that mean?'
And above their heads — that same translucent text again.[Occupation: ???]
'Could this be… a kidnapping?'
My heart pounded harder.A kidnapping disguised as harassment — that had to be it.
'The rich girl…'
Her translucent tag said: Daughter of a wealthy father. Name: Rie. Nationality: Japanese.
So that's why they were after her.
And that's why I risked my life — for that single glowing phrase.
Thud! Thud!
Boots slammed into my side. My body went numb.My vision blurred.
'This… this must be what dying feels like…'
[You are immortal.]
The voice echoed again in my head — the same words I heard before being reincarnated.
'If I'm immortal, then why does it hurt so much?'
"Hey! You bastards!"
A booming voice thundered across the alley.
I lifted my head weakly — and froze.
A fierce, broad-shouldered man stood there, radiating power.
'No way…'
It was him.
Sirasoni.The legendary fighter of Joseon.
I could see his name clearly in the translucent text above his head.
'He's real… and alive.'
Sirasoni — the man who would one day become a living legend.
"Why are there so many pests around here today?" one of the thugs muttered.
Another spat, "What, did Kim Tok-kang lose all his teeth?"
'Kim Tok-kang… That's Kim Du-han's nickname!'
Then it happened.
Drrrk!
Sirasoni charged forward like a beast unleashed.
Smack! Bam! Thud!
In an instant, five men hit the ground, groaning.It was like watching lightning — fast, brutal, and clean.
"Ugh…" The thugs gasped, clutching their ribs.
"If you don't want to die, get lost!" Sirasoni roared.
The thugs scrambled up and ran like cowards.
I struggled to my feet, my body screaming in pain.
And yet, the two women who had just been saved didn't even look at me.Their eyes were fixed on Sirasoni — their hero.
'Yeah… that's the world for you.'
If you have no strength, you're invisible.
Still, when I looked at the woman in the suit — Rie — I couldn't help but notice.She was beautiful. Refined. Out of place here.
A Japanese "new woman" — educated, fashionable, and wealthy.
'That's my secret hill… it has to be.'
Sirasoni turned toward me, his expression softening.
"You all right, kid?"
He placed a heavy hand on my shoulder, pulling me up.
"...Yes."
I could barely stand, but I forced a smile.
"Helping someone even when you have no strength — that's real courage," he said."Kid, you've got more guts than most men I know."
A true hero's words — simple and strong.
If only I could fight like him…No, maybe it's better that I can't. Fighters die young.
"What are you staring at? Go on, you Eminais, get moving!" Sirasoni barked.
At that, Rie whispered something to her maid.The maid approached Sirasoni and bowed.
"Miss says she'd like to thank you properly — please, let us reward you."
"What? Reward? It's already past Boknal, what kind of reward is that?" Sirasoni scoffed."Forget it. Just go home before trouble finds you again."
He waved them off with his usual blunt charm.
Still, the lady herself stepped forward and bowed politely."Thank you… for saving me."
Sirasoni grinned faintly, turned around, and walked away without another word.
'He really is something else,' I thought.A man too pure for this filthy world.
And maybe that's why he'll die young — betrayed by men with more greed than honor.
Then, suddenly—
[It's a moment of choice.]
The voice returned. The air trembled around me.
[Option 1: Follow the legendary fighter Sirasoni.Option 2: Follow Rie, daughter of Nakamura, owner of a large rice shop in Myeongdong.]
'What…?'
My breath caught.
Follow Sirasoni — a man of fists, courage, and no fortune.Or follow Rie — a woman tied to power and money.
'So she's Nakamura's daughter… a rice merchant's heiress.'
Her "Special Note" had only said daughter of a wealthy father.It didn't reveal the full truth.
'So the translucent text changes… depending on what happens!'
I'd seen it before — when I spread rumors about Mr. Choi, the Japanese spy, and his occupation updated to match.
These texts aren't fixed. They react to reality.
Which means… my choices shape the future.
'Now then… who should I choose?'
I glanced between the two figures.Sirasoni — the wandering hero.Rie — the key to wealth and status.
'I can't even fight. If I follow Sirasoni, I'll just be a nameless shadow following him from bar to bar.'
He's the tiger — I'd just be the fox hiding behind him.And every gangster's story ends the same way — in blood or regret.
Kim Du-han became a lawmaker, but died penniless.Lee Hwa-yong lived long, but faded into obscurity.Lee Jung-jae dreamed of politics — and was executed.
'Fighters vanish. Legends fade.'
And me? I can't fight.
No — I have to be smarter.
It has to be Option 2.