The next morning, the system's warning of the "Unknown Profile" weighed on Kim-Do's mind like a leaden screed. Who was this boy? Was it a new enemy, a mere curious man, or something more sinister? Every stranger in the corridors of Ganguk High became a potential threat.
As he made his way to his first class, a new blue window emerged, more complex than the previous ones.
"'
[QUEST: Strengthening cohesion]
Background: Your faction needs tangible evidence of your leadership.
Objective: Organize and conduct a training session for at least 5 members of your faction before the end of the day.
• Reward: +3% Synchronicity, "Targeted Memory: Basic Combat Techniques," +100 Reputation Points.
Failure: Demotivation of troops, loss of respect.
"'
Training. Kim-Do's worst nightmare. He had to not only fight, but teach how to fight. The mere idea made him shudder. But the risk of losing the respect of his supporters was too great.
He gathered his courage and, during the lunch break, announced to Yu-Ra and a few other trusted members: "We train after school. Sports field is. All of you are there."
The message was delivered with a brusqueness that he hoped would be convincing. The glances exchanged were a mixture of surprise and excitement. The real Kim-Do was known for his brutal and effective training.
The afternoon was torture. In mathematics class, Kim-Do tried desperately to recall the fragments of fighting memories he had acquired. The movements seemed blurry, inaccessible. How could he teach what he himself did not master?
The bell rang, sealing his fate. A dozen members of his faction, led by Yu-Ra, were waiting for him on the eastern sports field, a place partially hidden by trees. The air was loaded with waiting.
"So, boss, what are we working on today?" asked a muscular boy, his fists clenched with impatience.
Kim-Do felt the panic rise. He was about to be unmasked. He closed his eyes for a second, invoking "Emotional Camouflage." Coldness invaded him, stifling his terror.
"Today, we don't work with strength," he said, his voice becoming strangely calm and supportive.
Eyebrows frowned. It wasn't the usual style of their leader.
"Perception?" repeated Yu-Ra, puzzled.
"Yes," Kim-Do continued, letting himself be guided by a sudden intuition. He remembered his own analysis of fighting on the Internet, the importance of reading the opponent. But being strong is useless if you don't know where to hit."
He pointed to two of the strongest members. "You two. Simulate an attack. Slowly."
The two boys, a little confused, complied. Their movements were heavy, predictable.
"Stop," Kim-Do ordered. He approached and pointed to the elbow of the first. "You lower your guard when you prepare your right hook." He turned to the second. "And you always look at your feet before you load. A smart opponent would have already put you on the mat."
A silence set in, and then approving whispers arose. It wasn't physical training, it was coaching. It was new. It was smart.
For an hour, Kim-Do went around the group, correcting postures, pointing to weaknesses, encouraging members to observe each other. He showed no complex movement, he was content to use his analyst's eye, nourished by hundreds of hours spent in front of screens in his old life. It was a skill of its own, not stolen.
The faces, initially skeptical, turned into expressions of concentrated respect. They were learning.
As the session drew to a close, a familiar, ironic voice rang out on the edge of the field.
A very strange method, Kim-Do. Almost... intellectual."
There was Kang Seong, leaning against a tree, his notebook in his hand. He had observed everything.
Kim-Do's cold shield nearly broke. But he turned slowly towards the observer.
"Grute force has its limits, Kang Seong. Knowledge, no," he replied, hoping that his voice would not tremble.
An enigmatic smile stretched Kang Seong's lips. "Really? We will see if this "knowledge" will withstand the next storm." With that, he turned his heels and disappeared.
The threat in his words was palpable. But for now, Kim-Do had succeeded.
VZZT.
"'
[QUEST ACCOMPLITED: Strengthening the cohesion]
+3% synchronicity.
Targeted Memory: Unlocked Base Combat Techniques.
+100 Reputation Points.
"'
The reward was immediate. A flood of practical knowledge flooded his mind: guard positions, basic punching sequences, elementary dodges. It was rough, incomplete, but it was a start. For the first time, he felt a glimmer of hope. Perhaps he could really learn.
As the group dispersed, Yu-Ra approached with new eyes shining with new admiration.
No one had ever thought of teaching us that, boss. It was... great."
Kim-Do nodded, unable to respond, overwhelmed by a mixture of fatigue and relief.
On his way back, as he walked through a park to shorten, a familiar figure suddenly stood in front of him, blocking his path.
He was the restaurant's menu boy. That of the "Unknown Profile."
He was younger than he had seemed, with big, piercing eyes staring at him without fear.
"Kim-Do," said the boy, and his voice was strangely mature for its appearance. "Or should I say... the imposter?"
Kim-Do's world stopped dead. The cold of his camouflage broke like glass, giving way to pure and raw terror.
The stranger smiled, a smile that did not bode well.
"We need to talk. The real Kim-Do... he wouldn't be happy with what you're becoming."